Uthappa accepts World Cup exclusion

Robin Uthappa is disappointed not to have made it into India's World Cup squad, but says he has come to terms with the selectors' decision. Uthappa was part of India's squad in their last ODI series against Sri Lanka, playing the last two matches as wicketkeeper-batsman.

Since then, Uthappa has enjoyed a productive start to his Ranji Trophy season, scoring 437 runs at 62.42. Shortly before the World Cup squad announcement, he made 156 in Karnataka's first innings against Jammu and Kashmir.

"I believe every person gets what they deserve at the right time," Uthappa said. "For me, I have accepted it, staying very much in the present. Here I am playing Ranji Trophy and I will continue playing Ranji Trophy. I love the game, that is why we play the game. Yes, definitely I am a tad disappointed but I believe that good things will come at the right time, at the right place, under the right circumstances."

Uthappa was pleased for his Karnataka team-mate Stuart Binny, who made the World Cup squad as the only seam-bowling allrounder.

"Yes, I am very happy for Stuart," Uthappa said. "We both were pretty tensed yesterday and today. I am very happy for him and hopefully he does great. It is an honour to play in the World Cup. It is a fantastic opportunity. I just wished him and asked him to make the most of it."

Uthappa added that he was happy with his early-season form, which has fetched him three half-centuries and a hundred in seven innings, and hoped he could continue in the same vein.

"I feel pretty confident with my skills," he said. "I was pretty disappointed that I was not able to convert the 70s into hundreds in the first couple of innings. I missed out after being on 97 [against Railways]. On that challenging wicket, it would have been really satisfying to get a hundred. But I was pretty happy to finish the year on a high and begin the new year on a good note. I want to consolidate on this and continue to perform, and contribute to the team's victory and make them meaningful."