IANS
Mumbai, Oct 19: On the eve of the first ever Twenty20 International on Indian soil, batsman Robin Uthappa said Friday that the shortest version of the game is like a picnic to be enjoyed by both the players and public.
"Twenty20 cricket is a picnic kind of thing. You should enjoy this game," he said at Brabourne Stadium where the home side will take on one-day champions Australia in a one-off match.
Earlier in the day, Australia captain Ricky Ponting also called Twenty20 an "enjoyable format" of cricket.
Uthappa, who was a member of the Indian team that won the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa last month, said that fortunes change quickly in this version.
"It changes in a matter of five balls ... the whole mindset (of players) is different," averred the Karnataka batsman.
Uthappa, however, hinted that he, for one, did not exactly like this version based on 20 overs per innings.
"Personally (speaking), this is not the best version of the game for me. But Indian spectators will enjoy it," he said.
On the raging topic of gamesmanship between players, Uthappa had an open mind.
"It's not a bad thing to happen on the field," he said of the chitchat that has hogged headlines throughout the just concluded seven-match One-Day International series that Australia won 4-2 Wednesday.
On rowdy spectators, Uthappa said that they should draw a line somewhere while watching international matches.
"When something rules have been put up, people should abide by those. They should follow the rules," he suggested.
Uthappa, who scored 167 runs at 33.40 in the just concluded ODI series, is looking forward to the Twenty20 game.
Robin Uthappa in Daijiworld archives: