Robin Uthappa wants KKR to focus on their strengths ahead of CLT20 semi-final

Robin Uthappa shared a record 153-run partnership with Manish Pandey against the Dolphins

With Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on a 13-game unbeaten run after their most recent victory against the Dolphins in the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) on Monday, opening batsman Robin Uthappa has said that the team would look to focus on their strengths ahead of their semi-final clash against Hobart Hurricanes on October 2.

"I think they (Hobart Hurricanes) have been playing good cricket. I think some of their batsmen are really doing well. It is a good bowling side. We as a unit respect their side. But at the same time, we possess our strengths as well," Uthappa said in the press conference post their comprehensive 36-run victory yesterday.

"So, I think we will focus more on our strengths and our abilities and sticking to our processes, which has been working for us thus far," he added.

Happy with personal form

Uthappa, who has continued his good form for KKR from the IPL with a knock of 85 from 55 balls against the Dolphins, was pleased with his contribution especially after losing the wickets of Gautam Gambhir and Jacques Kallis early on in the innings.

"I am feeling extremely happy. I think we have got a kind of a pattern of going about our business on the field. Today, it was a slightly different wicket from the other wickets we played. It was a good wicket, a good challenging wicket, something for bowlers as well. For me, it was important to hold one end up. I am happy I was able to do that. Glad Manish (Pandey) stuck the way he did today," he said.

Uthappa added that it is his responsibility, as an opening batsman, to consolidate the innings whenever the situation demands and is glad that the work he has been doing over the last couple of years on that aspect of his batting has been paying off.

"I worked on my game quite a bit. So, I look to time the ball a lot more. I look play to the merit of the ball. That's what I have been doing for the last couple of years. So, I know it is my responsibility as an opening batsman to hold one end up for the team.

"I know that if I play to the merit of the ball and focus on rotating the strike, I know I have the ability to put away the bad balls for boundary. I am just trying to do that to the best of my ability," he said.

Professional approach paying off

Uthappa added that the reason for their success so far has been their professional approach to every game and the fact that they never seem to give up irrespective of the situation.

"We just set ourselves up for whatever is there on that particular day. I think that is very important to be able to keep an open mind to say that anything is possible, instead of probably achieving the impossible. So, we keep our minds open and go about our business pretty professionally. I think that is a reason for our success so far," the Karnataka batsman said.