Karnataka cricketers keen to make most of opportunity

Karnataka cricketers, who have been picked in India and India A squads, want to make the most of the opportunity that came their way in their respective upcoming rubbers.

As many as seven players from Karnataka were selected in India’s ODI squad for the tour of Zimbabwe and India A team’s series against Australia A at home.

While Robin Uthappa, Manish <g data-gr-id="55">Pandey</g> and Stuart Binny have made it to the 15-member Zimbabwe-bound India squad to be led by Ajinkya Rahane, Lokesh Rahul, Karun Nai, Shreyas Gopal and <g data-gr-id="44">Abimanyu</g> Mithun have made the India A cut.

The team that won the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Cup and the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2013-14, and replicated that unprecedented hat-trick last season, has justified its success by the representation of its players in the recently picked squads.

Uthappa, who fell off the selectors’ radar after a poor India A tour to Australia last year, said he wants to make the most of this opportunity which came his way after a long time.

“It has been a long time coming, I have been performing consistently in domestic cricket for a long while. It is a decent opportunity that has come my way and I want to make the most of it. I have understood what works for me as a batsman and as a cricketer, and I want to stay true to that,” he said.