Robin Uthappa, a former India and Karnataka batter, has shed light on a painful chapter of his career when his remarks about Test cricket selection were misconstrued, ultimately creating rifts within his domestic setup. Known for his candour, Uthappa recalled how frustration during his quest for a Test cap led to comments being twisted against him, damaging his bond with teammates—particularly Karun Nair.

Reflecting on the episode, Robin Uthappa explained that he had voiced concerns over the ease with which Test caps were being handed out. “I said in an interview that some players needed to earn their Test cap rather than being gifted one. It wasn’t about anyone in particular, but the remarks were turned against me,” he revealed.

According to Uthappa, someone from the Karnataka camp misrepresented his statement to Karun Nair, who was then close to a Test call-up.

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“Karun, who was like a younger brother to me, believed I had said it about him. Without clarifying, he distanced himself from me, and that hurt deeply,” Robin Uthappa added.

The former wicketkeeper-batter further stated that the controversy snowballed after media in Mumbai picked up the story. Given the city’s historic dominance in domestic cricket, the narrative was spun to appear as though his remarks targeted Nair directly. The result was infighting and isolation within the team.

Robin Uthappa recalled confronting the group, saying he was willing to quit if anyone felt he was breaking team harmony. “Nobody raised a hand, but it was clear there was an organised effort to sideline me because I had become the players’ voice,” he said.

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The incident left a lasting emotional scar. “After that, I tried to give everything, but the performances didn’t follow. That emotional tag broke something inside me,” Uthappa concluded, highlighting how one misunderstood statement altered the trajectory of his domestic journey.