Karnataka rotate keepers for Uthappa's cause

Karnataka have begun to alternate wicketkeeping duties between Robin Uthappa and CM Gautam at the behest of KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel to facilitate Uthappa's return to international cricket as a wicketkeeper-batsman. The decision, which gave Karnataka's batting coach J Arun Kumar "sleepless nights", has come as a challenge for Gautam, who has found the switch between keeping and fielding "irritating."

Gautam kept wicket in Karnataka's opening game against Assam in Guwahati, but Uthappa kept against Bengal. Gautam was back as keeper in the first innings against Vidarbha, but Uthappa took over in the second.

Karnataka captain Vinay Kumar had said before the start of the Vidarbha game that it was Uthappa's call to keep wicket, and Arun Kumar confirmed that was the case.

"It was not a strategy but it was just the interest of Robin Uthappa trying to play for the country as a wicketkeeper batsman after Dhoni has retired," Arun Kumar told ESPNcricinfo. "We took it to Mr. Brijesh Patel also, and Brijesh Patel took the decision that now let them alternate keeping. Even it was beyond my comprehension, but we still went to Brijesh and he said share the duty."

Gautam had said during the Vidarbha match that he did not have a choice in the matter, and later said that flitting between the roles of a keeper and a fielder was hard. "It is irritating because on and off keeping is not that easy also because I have to focus on my fielding," Gautam told ESPNcricinfo. "It's a new challenge for me because I haven't done this for the past seven years."

Arun Kumar said it was hard for him to strike a balance between the interests of an individual and a team. "I am [in] a bit of a tight spot, to be honest. It's not an easy thing for me convince both of them. It took a lot of sleepless nights for me to decide on this."

"Obviously CM Gautam was really hurt, and then I explained to him that people know you are a good keeper. You don't have to prove anything. The selectors know apart from [Wriddhiman] Saha you are the best keeper in the country.

"Same thing to Robin also. He has kept in IPL and people know he is a good keeper. Both of them will have to get 1000 runs a season to break into the India side, as simple as that."

According to Arun Kumar, a slightly revised arrangement will now have Gautam keeping in the first innings before making way for Uthappa in the second. "Basically Robin wants to keep in touch with keeping, CM is a professional keeper. For Robin to keep in touch even in the second innings is good as long as he gets every match.

"So I thought the logical way to do it is that let CM keep in the first, Robin in the second so that we are fair to both of them. Now we have come down to this and both are happy now."

Arun Kumar said Gautam was deliberately stationed at first slip next to Uthappa to bridge any communication gap. "I want both of them to talk to each other, understand each other better than keeping somebody away," he said. "If it's filled up with a lot of silence then you don't know what's running in each other's mind.

"As a coach of a very confident team, a very understanding team, we are like a family. Obviously there will be a lot of quarrels and misunderstandings in the family, but it's my duty as a coach to set everything right. So, it's a healthy competition going on. They have no animosity between them."

Gautam said he did not want to dwell on it. "I don't really want to think too much and get frustrated over the issue. I want to focus on my cricket. End of the day, I want Karnataka want to win. I always played for that. Whether I play for India or not, I ultimately want my team to win. So, whatever they feel comfortable or happy with, I will go by that."