Carlos Brathwaite smashed a 11-ball knock of 34 © Cricaction
He might have hogged all the limelight with his all-round show that helped Delhi Daredevils topple heavyweights Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs, but Carlos Brathwaite credited his teammates Karun Nair and debutant Sam Billings for providing the platform for their highest total of the season thus far, batting first, that helped the home team avenge their nine-wicket loss in their tournament opener.
Andre Russell's 2 for 17 in the opening spell had reduced the home team to 32 for 3 inside the powerplay overs. However, Billings impressed on debut and stitched a match-winning 105-run stand with Nair to put Daredevils in the driver's seat.
In the process, Billings became only the second overseas player to score a half-century on Indian Premier League debut while Nair registered his sixth fifty-plus score. Brathwaite admitted that had it not been for the patient partnership between the two middle-order batters, Delhi could have folded for a sub-par total that could have proved too difficult to defend for the bowlers on a, surprisingly, flat Kotla track.
"Yeah it helped that the pitch was a lot more true, but let's not forget the foundation that was set by Karun and Sam that allowed me to come and play the way I wanted to play," Brathwaite said after Daredevils registered a comprehensive 27-run win on Saturday (April 30) at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. "Most important were the contributions from those two that laid the platform."
Brathwaite, who last played against Royal Challengers Bangalore, was dropped keeping in line with Daredevils' horses for courses policy. Drafted back into the line-up as Delhi looked to strengthened their batting order in the crucial tie against the Knight Riders, the all-rounder bagged the Man of the Match award for his 11-ball cameo worth 34 runs and 3 for 47 with the ball. The West Indies' recruit however credited the backroom staff for not letting the 'rested' players feel left out.
"We don't see it as being dropped. For instance, Imran Tahir missed out today and I don't think he'll consider (that) he is dropped. It is just horses for courses," he said. "We have good depth in our squad, in our overseas (bench). Unfortunately, only four can play, so someone has to miss out. Credit to the team, the backroom staff and the international players that whoever does miss out, still get the same level of support when they are off the field," Brathwaite noted.
The 27-year-old also stressed that a relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room has translated to their success on the field. Delhi, who started as definite underdogs, have silenced their critics with four wins in their six concluded games and currently occupy the second spot in the points tally. Brathwaite admitted that the bonding between the players off the field has united them on it.
"We started this season with a clean slate and we stressed on having strong processes and solid preparation," he explained. "We enjoy each others' company and it is a very fun dressing room to be in. After play we have the music, we enjoy each others' company and go for dinners together. So it helps when you are friends off the field. That way you do go into pressure situations and fightback hard for each other on the field," he concluded.
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