Line has to be drawn where...: Robin Uthappa SLAMS CSK for allowing Rachin Ravindra to practice in Chennai

New Delhi, India

Tom Latham-led New Zealand stunned India by inflicting a 3-0 whitewash in the recently-held three Tests in India. Rachin Ravindra, who scored a majestic hundred in the first Test in Bengaluru, played a key role in his side's dominance. Former Indian opener Robin Uthappa has recently shown his displeasure over his ex-IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) allowing Ravindra, who joined the Yellow Army in the 2024 edition, to practice in Chennai ahead of the India series.

Ravindra trained in CSK's academy in Chennai ahead of NZ's one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, which got washed out in September, and trained there to get used to the Indian conditions. As a result, he scored a brilliant ton in the series opener and ended the series as the second-highest run-getter -- most from his side -- with 256 runs (including a fifty and a hundred).

'CSK is a beautiful franchise but line has to be drawn where country's interest comes ahead'

Thus, Uthappa said on his YouTube channel, "Rachin Ravindra came here and practiced at the CSK Academy. CSK is a beautiful franchise that will always look after its franchise players but a line has to be drawn where the interest of the country comes ahead of your franchise players, especially when he is a foreign player and comes and plays against our country."

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Uthappa, who represented CSK from 2021-22, further opined, "I am not surprised that CSK always go over and above for their players but somewhere in that kindness, maybe I am not saying the right thing, I absolutely love CSK, but when it comes to the country, there should be a line somewhere where we do not cross that line."

"On the basis of that preparation, Rachin Ravindra batted brilliantly (in the series opener in Bengaluru). One of the best knocks by an overseas player. On that wicket, 134 off 157 balls, it was solid batting. He then showed that he is the future of New Zealand cricket," he concluded.

NZ beat India by eight wickets in Bengaluru and followed it up with a 113 and 25-run win in Pune and Mumbai, respectively, to become the first Test team to beat India 3-0 in India.

Talking about CSK, they have not retained Ravindra ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.