West Indies’ big-hitting all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has on Sunday (April 12) recalled one of the best memories of his career when he became an overnight celebrity after guiding his country to it's second ICC T20 World Cup title four years ago in India.
In the enthralling T20 World Cup 2016 final, Brathwaite showed his beast mode and ability with the bat to the world, entertaining the spectators at the iconic Eden Gardens by hammering Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes to seal an emphatic title win over England.
Needing 19 off last over, Brathwaite, who was on strike, stunned everyone and England by hitting the first four balls of the overs for huge sixes against the all-rounder Ben Stokes to pull off a sensational win for West Indies to clinch the second T20 World Cup title in 2016. In that match, the all-rounder scored 34 unbeaten off 10 balls with a strike rate of 340 for his team.
Following the dramatic triumph in Kolkata, Brathwaite became an overnight celebrity in India and even the all-rounder has also recently admitted that he was treated like Chris Gayle in the cricket-crazy nation after that famous victory against England.
Recalling how the Indian fans treated him after that knock, Brathwaite said his best memory in the country will always be the adulation he got days after the final and even he received a very similar reception when he returned the country for ₹4.2 crore IPL contract with Delhi Capitals that year.
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As per a report by IANS, Brathwaite told a Delhi-NCR based pet channel on Instagram: “Cricket is a religion in India. I remember I was filming Chris (Gayle) being mobbed at the airport. But after the World Cup when I came to play for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), the same thing was happening to me.”
However, the West Indies all-rounder was not picked by any franchise for the IPL 2020 and he was hoping to involve in the tournament in some capacity may be a replacement. He added: “Hopefully I will be in IPL in some capacity may be replacement player or in the commentary.”
He also revealed that Bengaluru is his favorite city for partying in India, while Kolkata will always be special and his wife like Mumbai too.
Brathwaite also spoke about his love for dogs. He signed off by saying, “Chris Jordan and Jofra (Archer) have been asking me to see my dog. Kemar Roach has some dogs. Shreyas Iyer is also with his dogs. So there are few cricketers with dogs and we do chat about them.”
(With IANS Inputs)
