Improved Robin Uthappa catches the eye

The century that Robin Uthappa made in India A's win against New Zealand A on Sunday (September 8) only confirmed what was obvious from watching him prepare for the game.

Uthappa spent the match eve fine tuning his footwork, first against the bowling machine and then against the pacers who are a part of the India A squad. The final step in his ritual was light throw downs before concluding a two-hour net session.

Known for his flamboyant stroke play once upon a time, the Uthappa of today is a lot more conservative and traditional. Yet he has managed to retain aggression, a hallmark of his batting that was evident as he smashed a 114-ball 103 that set the tone for India A's victory.

While Uthappa was at his dominating best, Pravin Amre, his personal coach with whom he has trained extensively in the off season, was seated in the corner of the air-conditioned press box, jotting down his observation of proceedings.

A good stroke or a solid defense was met with a nod of appreciation. A bad stroke was greeted with a grimace and a shadow practice of how the stroke ought to have been played. From a distance, it was difficult to infer what notes were jotted, but it was clear that Amre's eyes were trained on every aspect of Uthappa's game. "My observation of Uthappa is not just restricted to his batting alone," Amre told Wisden India. "It ranges from studying his mannerisms, body language while on the field, to the intensity with which he runs towards the ball or even his catching methods.

"There are various challenges for both of us, especially since the concept of a personal coach is new to cricket. I'm not a part of the team management, so during the game there is nothing I can say or do. So while he's at the ground, I try to note every aspect of his game."

What was striking about Uthappa, the batsman, was the number of shots he eliminated from his game en route his century. For starters, his tendency to walk across the stumps to work the ball onto the on side was absent.

Elaborating on the changes that Uthappa brought to his game in the last year, Amre pointed out, "If you look at the innings today, it contained proper cricketing shots. There were no rash shots whatsoever. You don't see him play the reverse sweep anymore, or walk down the wicket to loft the ball past the bowler," said Amre. "We also laid a lot of emphasis on the mental aspect of his game, which is extremely important. Basically, the tough job is done by him. I'm just pointing out some minor adjustments, it is his inclination to iron them out and that is very commendable."

One such observation Amre talked about is Uthappa's downswing. "We observed the posture of his body wasn't correct and that was party because of his weight. He had this tendency of falling over," he explained. "One of the ways of correcting that was by reducing his weight and all credit to him. He knocked out 17 kilos before last year's Ranji Trophy season and that has helped him immensely. His upper body posture is a lot more correct when he plays off the front foot now."

After racing into his 70s, Uthappa's inclination to convert it into a century was noticeable. He slowed down initially, but when there were loose deliveries on offer, they were duly put away.

For many batsmen, the last 20 runs can become a mental battle, but Uthappa breezed past 90 with two imperious pulls over midwicket. The celebration after reaching his century wasn't flashy. No pump of the fists or gestures. It was a glance towards the heavens and gently soaking in the applause of the fans and his team-mates.

The signs are encouraging, and with the national selectors in attendance, Uthappa couldn't have timed his knock better. If he can remain consistent, he could chart a new course ahead of the new season.