Recently, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa revealed how he fought depression and anxiety, and how he recovered from it in the year 2011 when Graham Thorpe had died. Graham Thorpe was an England cricketer who played throughout the 1990s and the 2000s and allegedly committed suicide, according to his wife. In the same vein, the former Indian bowler David Johnson died in June due to mental health issues. Uthappa has spoken earlier about his own mental health struggles between 2009 and 2011 and how he overcame them. The 38-year-old took to social media to share a rather vulnerable note, saying he had an "exhausting" battle with depression and how it had affected him mentally and physically, until he was ashamed to look in the mirror. He pointed out this struggle was far more difficult than getting exposed to some tough deliveries on the cricket field. Watch the video here: 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. Prioritise your well-being, seek help, and find hope in the darkness. I share my story on this… pic.twitter.com/XSACIZUfm4 — Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) August 20, 2024 Uthappa's statement has come at a time when there is a growing concern for the mental health of athletes. Making his debut for India in 2006, Uthappa was a regular in the Indian white-ball team till 2008. He was also a part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup winning squad. He has also played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India over a span of nine years. He has scored a total of 1,183 runs for India. However, he fell off in terms of form in 2009, and after that, only a few opportunities came his way. He had a good time at the IPL, and in 2014, he won the tournament for the Kolkata Knight Riders, becoming an Orange Cap holder for the most runs – 660. Also Read | India's Glorious Cricket World Cup Victories