Kolkata Knight Riders former batter Robin Uthappa has revealed that he wanted to go back to the auction table in IPL 2015 despite winning the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous season. Uthappa was the highest run-getter of the season with 660 runs in 16 matches at an average of 44 and bagged the Orange Cap.

However, the flamboyant batter wanted to earn more in the next auction and thus wanted to be released by KKR. Uthappa had played an instrumental role in taking KKR to glory after opening the innings with captain Gautam Gambhir, who scored 335 runs in that edition.

“After Pune Warriors India, I went to KKR for Rs 5 crore. After my big year (with the bat), we won the IPL (2014) and I got the Orange Cap, I wanted to be released. I wanted to go back in the auction. I wanted to maximize the opportunity to earn more. To be honest, how much longer are you gonna play? Till 35, 36. And I was already 29 by then. So, I wanted to maximize my earnings,” Uthappa admitted on the ‘KimAppa’ show hosted by Jarrod Kimber on YouTube.

However, Uthappa revealed that his request was not entertained by the KKR management as they wanted to retain him for the next season.

“I went and had a conversation with the leadership group at KKR. They denied and said we can’t let you go. We want you to play for us. We want you to play for us for a long time. And then I had a conversation with them and there was no way I could’ve earned more than Rs 5 crore based on the contract at that point. So I let it go. I just wanted to try and it was worth having a conversation,” he said, recalling the instance after the winning season.

Uthappa’s last IPL appearance came back in the 2022 season for Chennai Super Kings.