Mumbai Indians batting coach Robin Uthappa wants the team to become a force not just at the Wankhede Stadium but also at every other venue in the IPL. He believes the five-time champions must win back the trust of their fans after a disappointing 2025 season.Mumbai Indians finished ninth among 10 teams in IPL 2025. Uthappa knows the team, under head coach Kieron Pollard, has a lot of work to do to return to its winning ways.Speaking to the franchise’s website, Uthappa said Mumbai Indians would once again begin their journey as underdogs and would have to earn the support of their fans.“Today, we find ourselves back in that similar situation right now where the trust of the fans need to be earned again. We come in again as underdogs. it’s been one full cycle, and we’re back to where we started again, which is nice,” Uthappa said.
Uthappa wants MI to dominate away from home
Uthappa believes Mumbai Indians have built a strong reputation at the Wankhede Stadium. However, he wants the team to carry the same confidence and fighting spirit to away venues.“We’re a force to reckon with at home. I want to take that same emotion, that same energy to every venue away from home. My goal would be to make sure that that sense of intimidation that teams feel when they come to Mumbai Indians, to the Paltan — I want them to feel that same intimidation when we go away from home as well.“And to be able to be on the same side of the Mumbai Indians fans. On the same side of the Paltan. So I’m looking forward to playing a part in that journey of earning the fans’ trust back and making sure that this underdog journey will be one to be remembered.”
Wants to build confidence among domestic players
Uthappa also spoke about his plans to work closely with domestic cricketers. He believes young players need clear guidance and support to understand their roles and improve their game.“I would love to empower domestic cricketers and help them get clarity. That’s one of the most important aspects that the young cricketers need at this point in time, clarity of what they want to do, how they want to do it, and what is the process by which they’re going to achieve those aspects.“You’re also emotionally investing in their own journey, and then you’re rooting for them. You want them to do well. And so when they do well, it feels like personal achievement.”He recalled how one of the players he had mentored earned a place in India’s Test team. Uthappa said the achievement made him feel as if he had been selected himself.“I remember when one of the lads I was working with and mentoring got picked up in the Indian Test squad, it felt like I got selected. It felt that emotional.“That’s something that I’m looking forward to, especially with domestic cricketers. And communication is a big part of it, and those are conversations I’m genuinely looking forward to.”
‘It just feels like destiny’: Uthappa on MI return
Uthappa described his appointment as Mumbai Indians batting coach as a special moment. He began his IPL career with the franchise in 2008 and is now starting his coaching journey in the league with the same team.In the inaugural IPL season, Uthappa scored 320 runs in 14 matches for Mumbai Indians at an average of 35.55 and a strike rate of 114.69.Speaking in a video shared by the franchise on social media, he expressed his happiness at returning to MI.“I am just genuinely happy to be back … thrilled about this and delighted to have this opportunity to work with this special set of cricketers and this franchise,” Uthappa said.“Incredible, and it just feels like destiny, to be honest. As in, I started my IPL career with Mumbai Indians and I start my IPL coaching career with Mumbai Indians, which seems like destiny to me.”
Uthappa recalls playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar
Uthappa, who represented India in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is between 2005 and 2015, also looked back at his first IPL season. He remembered the excitement of being picked by Mumbai Indians in the 2008 auction and getting the opportunity to share the dressing room with his idol Sachin Tendulkar.At the time, Uthappa was in Australia with the Indian team for the CB Series when the IPL auction took place.“So back in 2008, when I got into the franchise, I remember we were in Australia, playing the CB Series in Australia when the auctions happened, and I knew that I was going to be playing with my hero, Sachin Paaji over here.“So for me, that was really exciting feeling, because everyone was finding their feet in that first season, and including the franchises and players and teams, and the IPL itself. We had, I would say, a fairly decent season, could have been better.“We had injuries, and Paaji (Sachin Tendulkar) missed a big part of that tournament, and then Bhajjupa (Harbhajan Singh) captained as well, and Sanath (Sanath Jayasuriya) played really well, Polly (Shaun Pollock) played really well.”Uthappa went on to represent six franchises in the IPL. He won the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 and Chennai Super Kings in 2021. He finished his IPL career with 4,952 runs from 205 matches.
