Brathwaite optimistic about World Cup

KOLKATA, India – West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite believes the Caribbean side can spring a few surprises at the upcoming ICC World Cup, once they can reproduce the form they showed against England in the Caribbean recently.

“I think our chances are good, but I don’t think we will be the favourites. And I don’t think we will be the underdogs either,” Brathwaite said here ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League where he will be turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders for the first time.

“We know what we can do in the back of our minds, especially after the series we just had against England. So it’s a balanced expectation in my opinion.

“If we can replicate the brand of cricket we played in the Caribbean in the World Cup in England, we will go somewhere close to challenging for the title. We have traditionally been a good tournament team, so hopefully we can win the third World Cup.”

West Indies twice came from behind in the five-match series to earn a 2-2 draw with the world number one side.

They twice posted record ODI totals and also shone twice in the bowling department, especially in the final match in St Lucia when England were routed for a paltry 113 – their lowest-ever one-day total against the Windies.

Brathwaite, the Twenty20 skipper, played all five matches and managed to make his mark especially at the back end of the series with a handful of wickets and a maiden ODI half-century.

The 30-year-old has struggled in the IPL over the last three seasons, failing to live up to the massive billing gained when he smashed sixes off the first four deliveries of the 2016 T20 World Cup final, to earn West Indies a dramatic win over England.

However, Brathwaite said he was relaxed about his performances and was simply hoping to contribute to winning KKR performances.

“I am not a stats person. Even if I take one or two wickets that helps the team cross the line, that’s more important for me,” he explained.

“For me, it’s not necessary to score a fifty or take a hat-trick to feel that I have contributed. This mindset has helped me in the last couple of years.” (CMC)