MI are the underdogs again, Robin Uthappa wants to win back the fans’ trust

Robin Uthappa’s return to Mumbai Indians brings his IPL journey full circle. He began his career with the franchise in 2008, during the league’s inaugural season. Almost two decades later, is back as batting coachwith the responsibility of helping MI rebuild after a disappointing campaign.

The five-time champions finished ninth in the 10-team table last IPL season. Uthappa knows that the franchise will have to work hard to restore its status and win back supporters. He believes that MI are back in a familiar position and need to regain the trust of their fans.

“Today we find ourselves back in a similar situation where we need to regain the trust of the fans. We come in as an underdog again. It’s been one whole cycle and we’re back where we started again, which is nice,” Uthappa said in an interview with the franchise’s website.

TAKING THE FEAR FACTOR ON THE ROAD

For Uthappa, rebuilding MI is not just about getting back to winning ways at the Wankhede Stadium. He wants the team to carry that same authority and intimidation to faraway places.

“We are a force to be reckoned with at home. I want to bring the same emotion, the same energy to every venue away from home. My aim would be to ensure that the sense of intimidation that teams feel when they come to Mumbai Indians at Paltan, they want to feel the same fear when we leave home,” he said.

Winning back supporters is central to this ambition. Uthappa wants the team to reconnect with its fan base and make the underdogs’ journey a memorable one.

INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC TALENT

Uthappa also wants to focus on empowering domestic cricketers and helping young players clarify their roles and the processes needed to succeed.

“I would like to empower domestic cricketers and help them get clarity. That is one of the most important aspects that young cricketers need at the moment, clarity on what they want to do, how they want to do it and what is the process by which they will achieve those aspects,” he said.

For Uthappa, coaching goes beyond technical guidance. He wants to be emotionally invested in players’ journeys and proud of their progress. Recalling how he mentored a cricketer who later earned a place in the Indian Test team, he said the selection felt like a personal achievement.

“I remember when one of the guys I worked with and mentored got picked in the Indian Test team, I felt like I got picked. It was so emotional,” he said.

A RETURN THAT FEELS LIKE DESTINY

Uthappa described his appointment as a return to where his IPL story began. He was part of the MI team in the inaugural season in 2008, scoring 320 runs in 14 matches at an average of 35.55 and a strike rate of 114.69.

He still remembers the excitement when he learned that he would be playing alongside his hero Sachin Tendulkar. The announcement came while he was in Australia with the Indian team for the CB series.

“I knew I would be acting here with my hero Sachin Paaji. So it was really exciting for me,” he recalled.

“I started my IPL career with Mumbai Indians and I will start my IPL coaching career with Mumbai Indians, which feels like destiny,” he said.

Uthappa went on to represent six IPL franchises, winning titles with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 and Chennai Super Kings in 2021. He finished with 4,952 runs from 205 IPL matches.

He now returns to MI with a different responsibility. The immediate challenge is to recover from a difficult season. Uthappa’s ambition is to help restore the team’s fear factor, develop its homegrown talent and bring Paltan back to his side.

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