Excited to get a complete series, says Robin Uthappa

“I am pretty excited. The last few years I have been getting just one-off games at the end of the series. So I am pretty excited to get a complete series and, you know, a complete series with me keeping wickets. I believe and assume I will be keeping wickets. I am the only one (in the squad) who keeps (wickets) in domestic cricket,” said the hard-hitting Karnataka opener during the open media session here on Monday  ahead of the squad’s departure tomorrow morning.

“As a wicket keeper you get a close view of the wicket. There's a lot of information you get as a <g data-gr-id="48">wicket keeper</g> on how the pitches play and what kinds of angles are available for batsmen,” said the Bengaluru player who will be one of the key members of the second-string India squad led by Ajinkya Rahane.

The tour commences on July 10 with the first of three ODIs and ends with the second and last T20I and all matches are to be played at one venue, Harare.

Uthappa said he has prepared well for the tour.

“The preparations have been good. I have stuck to the same preparations and practice mode. I am paying <g data-gr-id="46">same</g> amount of time on keeping and batting. I want to do that job well for the country.” 

Though considered as a limited overs specialist at the international level, Uthappa said his dream was to represent the country in Test cricket.

“The goal is to play for India at the Test level. I will represent India in Tests, that?s the dream I have.” Another batsman who has been in and out of ODIs but was part of the World Cup squad, Ambati Rayudu, is also glad to get the opportunity to play for the country at a place where he has played before.

“The conditions were challenging and the ball swing around. In terms of cricket it was a good tour,” said Rayudu who was part of the Virat Kohli-led squad that whitewashed the hosts 5-0 in three ODIs and two T20s in the earlier visit in 2013.

The soft-spoken and shy Rayudu was flummoxed when asked about India's domination of Zimbabwe and said he was hearing the statistical details for the first time from one of the scribes. On India missing some top players, Rayudu said it provided opportunity for others.