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Former India batter Robin Uthappa made some staggering remarks about Virat Kohli’s captaincy era and blamed him for forcing legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to retire. Singh, who played key roles in India’s wins in T20 World Cup 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cup, was compelled to take retirement following his unfortunate diagnosis of lung cancer. He called it quits on his glorious career in June 2019, after having a lean patch following his return back to the team in December 2012.
While there has been a common belief that Yuvraj didn’t have the same fitness level following his return, former India batter Robin Uthappa blamed Virat Kohli for deliberately putting an end to Singh’s career. Uthappa said, “When Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) requested for that two-point deduction (in the fitness test), he didn't get it. Then he did the test because he was outside the team and they weren't taking him in. He passed the fitness test, came into the team, but had a lean tournament. (They) took him out totally, never entertained him after that. Whoever was in the leadership group, didn't entertain him. That time Virat was the leader and it went according to him due to his strong personality.”
Virat as a captain, he was very 'my way or the highway': Robin Uthappa
Uthappa, who played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India said, "I haven't played under Virat as a captain very much. But Virat as a captain, he was very 'my way or the highway' kind of a captain. It's not like these guys aren't also like that, but how you treat your team, how you treat your personnel, because it is not just about results." He also spoke about captaincy and said, “There are two different types of leaders. There are leaders who say this is the standard needed. Some leaders say, ‘I will meet you where you are, and I will elevate you to the standards I need you to be.’”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added, “For me that is the basic difference between the leadership of them (Rohit and Kohli). Both work and both will produce results, but the impact on the personnel will be different. One will value a lot, and the exclusive one will feel let down a lot.”
