Robin Uthappa, the former Indian cricketer, showcased his vintage form by smashing a blistering 31 off just eight balls during the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024 held in Mong Kok on Friday, November 1. Uthappa’s innings was highlighted by three towering sixes and an equal number of boundaries, as he decimated the opposition bowlers, particularly Aamer Yamin, whom he thrashed for 25 runs in the opening over.
Star Sports shared a video of Uthappa’s explosive knock, captioning it as “Oozing class!” The video clip captured the essence of Uthappa’s aggressive batting display, reaffirming his prowess with the bat.
Known for his consistent performances in T20 cricket, the 38-year-old Uthappa has amassed an impressive 7,272 runs in 291 matches, including 42 half-centuries. He also represented India in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is, playing a crucial role in the Men in Blue’s triumph at the 2007 T20 World Cup. Uthappa boasts an exceptional record in domestic cricket as well, having scored 9446 runs in first-class cricket and 6534 runs in List-A matches.
However, despite Uthappa’s heroics, India suffered a setback in their opening game of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament, losing to arch-rivals Pakistan by six wickets. Batting first, India posted a challenging total of 119/2 in six overs, with Bharat Chipli top-scoring with a quickfire 53 off just 16 deliveries. Chipli’s innings included four sixes and six boundaries before he retired after reaching his fifty. Skipper Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, claiming two crucial wickets.
In response, Pakistan chased down the target with an over to spare, courtesy of Asif Ali’s explosive unbeaten 55 off 14 balls, which included seven sixes and two boundaries. Muhammad Akhlaq and Faheem Ashraf also contributed with quickfire knocks of 40 (12) and 22 (5) respectively.
With this victory, Pakistan surged to the top of Group C in the points table, having previously defeated the UAE by 13 runs. On the other hand, India found themselves in third place due to a poor net run rate. The Robin Uthappa-led side will now look to bounce back when they face the UAE in their next match on Saturday, November 2.
Despite the initial setback, Uthappa’s stellar performance and leadership qualities are expected to inspire his team to regroup and put up a strong show in the upcoming matches of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament. His experience and ability to deliver under pressure make him a valuable asset for the Indian team, and fans will be eagerly awaiting more fireworks from the seasoned campaigner in the days to come.
