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Former India batter Robin Uthappa revealed the challenges he faced when he was diagnosed as clinically depressed. The 2007 T20 World Cup winner revealed his story to shed light on mental health challenges in sports. Uthappa who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2022 said he felt like he was a burden to the people he loves.
Uthappa represented India in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is in his nine-year career. He scored 1,183 runs with the help of six half-centuries.
Uthappa's IPL career, however, supersedes his international outings as he played in 205 matches whilst scoring 4,952 runs at a strike rate of 130.35 during his 15-year career with the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders, the now defunct Pune Warriors, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
“We are going to be talking about depression and suicide. We recently heard about Graham Thorpe and David Johnson from India. V.B Chandra Sekhar sir who was the rock of CSK. I have been there as well. It’s not a pretty journey. It’s debilitating. You feel like you are a burden to the people you love. It’s challenging. You feel like you are worth less,” Robin Uthappa said in a video on YouTube.
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Mental health is an aspect that is not talked about much in sports. With athletes under more pressure than ever, Uthappa’s initiative was an excellent one to break the stigma and open up about his situation.
“We have heard about multiple people, who have ended their lives due to depression. I personally have been there as well. It’s heavy, that’s how it feels. I have often felt when I was going through clinical depression, to be a burden. I was seeking answers,” he added.
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