.png?width=1200)
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has opened up about his deeply personal battle with depression, revealing the emotional turmoil he faced behind the glamour of professional sport like cricket. In a heartfelt message on social media, Uthappa shared, “I’ve faced many battles on the cricket field, but none as tough as the one I fought with depression. I’m breaking the silence around mental health because I know I’m not alone. Prioritize your well-being, seek help, and find hope in the darkness.”
Robin Uthappa on battling depression
Uthappa, a key member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad, spoke candidly about his struggle with mental health in 2011 a time when he felt utterly lost and worthless. On his YouTube channel, he reflected on that dark period, saying, “In 2011, I was so ashamed of who I had become as a human being. It’s absolutely okay to not know what you have to do next. Sometimes, just existing for that one day is what you need to do. Often, you don’t need to see the light at the end of the tunneljust the light to guide you to the next step.”
The former CSK star also paid tribute to fellow cricketers who tragically lost their lives to suicide, including Graham Thorpe, David Johnson, and VB Chandrasekhar. He spoke with deep empathy, recalling the pain that comes with feeling like a burden to loved ones.
"Life didn't feel sustainable. My heart goes out to Graham Thorpe and his family. I can't imagine what he went through to be able to do what he did. My prayers go out to his family, so as to David Johnson from India as well, similar circumstances."
He said, “We’re going to talk about depression and suicide. It’s not a pretty journey. It’s debilitating. You feel like you’re a burden to the people you love. It’s challenging. You feel like you’re worthless.”
The Karnataka cricketer offered ways to deal with depression, indicating there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"But I just want to tell you that whatever it is, there is a way out of this. The first thing that one needs to do that is to acknowledge to yourself that yes there is something wrong."
Uthappa said seeking professional help goes a long way in helping one tackle mental illness.
"The third step would be to actually seek help from somebody. A good professional goes a long way. Ideally someone that you don't necessarily know."
"And how do you figure out if you're seeking help from the right person? Now that would be the fourth step. The fourth step is to figure out if you have got a good counsellor."
"Now who is a good counsellor? A good counsellor according to me is someone who doesn't offer you solutions but a good counsellor is someone who asks you the right questions and empowers you to figure out your own solutions."
"Because in that process of empowerment, your confidence slowly begins to build."
Robin Uthappa was loved by fans of white-ball cricket due to his attacking style of batting. Walking down the pitch and hitting straight down the bowlers head was one of his trademark shots which put fans in awe. He was a part of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 winning campaign.
However as time progressed he failed to cement his place in Team India due to inconsistent performance and tough competition for playing XI . Despite being impressive in the Indian Premier League, the right-handed batter was not recalled to the side.
