"I think we kind of cracked it in the first year" - When a former KKR batter opened up on his batting chemistry with Gautam Gambhir

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Robin Uthappa once opened up about his chemistry with Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order for the franchise. The duo played a huge role in the team's title triumph in the 2014 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where Uthappa even won the Orange Cap.

The Karnataka batter had initially begun the season in the middle order, with Jacques Kallis opening the batting with Gambhir. KKR endured a mixed start in the 2014 IPL, winning two out of five matches in the UAE leg. Uthappa scored a fifty while batting at No. 4, but his middle-order stint had also included two single-digit scores.

KKR switched things up in the India leg, with a new combination in the form of Gambhir and Uthappa. The right-handed batter crossed 40 runs in each of his next 10 innings, climbing his way in the Orange Cap list, as Gambhir's form began to improve as well.

The pair continued to open the innings across the next two seasons as well, before Uthappa dropped down to No. 3 to accommodate Chris Lynn in the setup.

One of the pair's most classic opening stands came during the IPL 2016 clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). They put on 92 runs, with Uthappa scoring 38 runs off 34 deliveries. Gambhir went on to put up an unbeaten 90 off 60 deliveries, leading the side to a comfortable eight-wicket win while chasing down the 143-run target in Hyderabad.

"The batting chemistry between us is really good. Like today, in the initial part of the innings, Gauti was taking some time and then I went on the offensive for a little bit. Then I got hit and Gauti took over from there," Uthappa told iplt20.com after the win over SRH in IPL 2016 (via ESPN Cricinfo).

"It helps to have a stable opening combination throughout the tournament. I think we kind of cracked it in the first year when I joined KKR. Once we got that figured, it became a very formidable opening partnership," Uthappa added.

Uthappa and Gambhir last played together for KKR during the 2017 season. The latter was bought back by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) during the 2018 IPL Auction.

"I think myself and Gautam complement each other beautifully" - Robin Uthappa

The left-hand-right-hand combination arguably goes down as one of the most iconic opening pairs that the competition has ever witnessed.

"I think myself and Gautam complement each other beautifully and we have a great understanding between each other. We understand the importance of rotating strike and backing each other. We know exactly what to say to each other when we are batting in the middle, during the course of the innings," Uthappa further stated.

The pair turned back the clock when they opened the innings for the India Maharajas in the 2023 Legends League Cricket Masters (LLC) tournament. They put on an unbeaten 159-run stand in the 10-wicket win over Asia Lions in Doha. Gambhir and Uthappa ended up as the second and the fifth-highest run scorers of the tournament, respectively.