IPL Auction 2020: 3 teams that could target Robin Uthappa this year

The Karnataka-born batsman Robin Uthappa has been a consistent performer in the IPL. He has come to be known for his ability to score quick runs at the top of the order, as well as to hold the innings together in case of a collapse.

Uthappa played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders' second title victory in 2014 when he won the Orange Cap by scoring 660 runs in 16 innings.

He was a part of the KKR franchise for five years till the 2019 edition. He remained consistent year after year and was an integral part of the batting line-up. However, his form kept diminishing as KKR opted to experiment with its opening pair and sending Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn up top.

Eventually KKR ran out of patience with Uthappa, who couldn't deliver as a number 3 / number 4 batsman. They released him ahead of the 2020 IPL Auction.

With 4,411 runs in the IPL, Uthappa stands as the 8th highest scorer in the league's history. He has a career strike rate of 130.50 with 24 fifties to his name. He also holds the record of most consecutive 40+ scores (11), which came in the 2014 edition.

Uthappa has played for the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors India in the former editions as well. He heads into the 2020 auction as a veteran, and many franchises would be hoping to sign him to strengthen their top order for the upcoming season.

On that note, let's take a look at three teams that could target Uthappa in the auction.

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#3 Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab

The Kings XI Punjab had started the 2019 season well, but crashed to the seventh spot by the end of the group stage. The over-reliance on the opening pair of Chris Gayle and KL Rahul hurt them badly, as the middle-order batsmen couldn't score enough runs for the side.

Gayle and Rahul smashed 1,083 runs combined as a pair, but the likes of Mandeep Singh, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan and David Miller failed to contribute much. KXIP would be looking for an experienced batsman to strengthen their middle order.

The management could go for Uthappa in the auction, perhaps forming a new opening pair between him and Gayle. Rahul can then play at the No. 3 or No. 4 position, which could help KXIP avoid batting collapses in the middle overs.

#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Despite having a star-studded lineup, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have never managed to win the IPL trophy. The team relies heavily on skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to score runs and win matches for the side, and that's not exactly a foolproof strategy.

RCB finished as the wooden spoon holders last year with only five wins in 14 matches. Kohli opened with Parthiv Patel, while De Villiers batted as a No. 3 batsman for the most part. That didn't work too well for RCB as they failed to put up big totals consistently. The pressure on the bowlers to frequently defend low scores hurt them big time in 2019.

Uthappa's addition to the RCB batting line-up could help Kohli play as a regular No. 3 batsman. With Uthappa and Parthiv as the openers and De Villiers at No. 4, RCB could have a dominant batting line-up again.

Uthappa is also familiar with the pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium as he hails from Karnataka.

#1 Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals finished at the seventh spot last year, winning only five games in 14 matches.

With Jos Buttler, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith and Sanju Samson, RR had a formidable batting line-up. However, when the front-line foreign players left the team for national commitments, RR lost their way completely.

One of the biggest surprises from the just-concluded trade window was the transfer of Rahane to the Delhi Capitals. Having played for the Rajasthan Royals since 2011, Rahane donned the RR jersey for over 100 games, but his strike-rate often left a lot to be desired.

Rajasthan Royals could sign Uthappa this year as they need a hard-hitting opening batsman to partner Buttler in the powerplays. Uthappa's addition also could power up the Indian core, which RR has lacked over the years.

Moreover, he could act as a mentor to young talents like Riyan Parag and Mahipal Lomror, and help them improve their batting technique.