Brathwaite staying patient on IPL opportunity

Carlos Brathwaite

HYDERABAD, India, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite says he will continue to wait patiently for his opportunity despite failing to get a single match in the current Indian Premier League this season for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

With just four matches left in their preliminary campaign, Sunrisers top the standings on 16 points with just two defeats in their 10 outings.

As a result of their form, Brathwaite has been unable to force his way into the XI but says his focus was on keeping himself ready for when the opportunity presented itself. “The quality of the squad is such that there is no guarantee for a place in the playing XI,” said the 29-year-old who came to prominence in the 2016 World Cup in India.

“We have some highly skilled foreign players like Rashid Khan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammed Nabi, Chris Jordan, Alex Hales. It’s quite a competition.

“[Coach] Tom (Moody) has expressed the need to rotate foreign players. So I am continuing to train hard until my turn comes.”

Despite his obvious talents, the IPL has not been a particularly happy experience for the Barbadian all-rounder. He arrived at Delhi Daredevils amidst much fanfare in 2016 but managed just 10 matches across two seasons without any real success.

He played just two matches last season before being released and was subsequently picked up by Sunrisers for US$314 640 in last January’s draft.

Internationally, it has not been smooth sailing for Brathwaite either. His fireworks in the T20 World Cup final against England appeared to create unrealistic expectations, and he has also struggled for his best form.

However, the 29-year-old said he was hoping to get back to his best soon.

“The expectations have been difficult to live up to after that innings [in the T20 World Cup final],” he explained.

“After the final, I had a good series against Australia and South Africa at home. I also had a half-century against India in a home Test. But after that, things started to go adrift and there was a drop in form.

“However, over the past one year, I have become more aware of my abilities. I am focusing on the basics to get back to form.”

Following the IPL, Brathwaite will lead West Indies in a T20 International against an ICC World XI at Lord’s on May 31, a match organized to raise funds to rebuild stadia in the Caribbean damaged by the passage of the Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September.

He will also turn out for Kent in the England T20 Blast.