Confidence is always high when the big boys are around says Carlos Brathwaite

Windies have been handed a boost ahead of the one-off T20 game against India. Their heavyweights, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard are back in the side and the men in maroon are buzzing again. West Indies Cricket’s stance towards the star players they consider outlaws seem to be mellowing down a bit and Gayle’s selection for the series certainly is an indication.

The big man from Jamaica is a power hitter and a world beater. He has won games singlehandedly for Windies over the years and is the highest run scorer in T20 cricket. Kieron Pollard is also a fantastic player and will bring a lot of experience with him. It is going to be a real deal for the Indians to beat this side in the format they have mastered over the years.

Brathwaite happy to see them back

The players are returning to international cricket as Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard are to join this young and inexperienced Windies side. Skipper Carlos Brathwaite was also happy to see them as he talked about the confidence they bring in.

He also expressed how they have an influence on the dressing room and overall mentality of the team saying, “Confidence is always high. You don’t see Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, and Chris Gayle sulking or low on confidence. They always think we can win whatever the situation and that rubs off well.

“It is always nice to get the big boys back, nice vibe in the dressing room. With all the boys coming in, we have jokes around, we have fun. We always know where to draw the line. They are all mature guys. Me as the captain, am always trying to keep the dressing room as happy as I can as long as the boys express themselves at the park. Looking forward to a good performance tomorrow,” Brathwaite said.

Pay dispute a thing of the past

The board and the players were at loggerheads over the pay rise for quite some time now. However, Carlos has put an end to the discussion as he said that they want to play for their country and hence have signed the contract.

“We signed the contract because we wanted to be here, we wanted to represent West Indies and we wanted to play. So it is just to go there and show on the field our good performance.”

He also talked about how they will concentrate on their own game and not on the opposition. He mentioned that it is about them taking their game to the highest gear and as quickly as possible. “We have to concentrate on us. It is not about them but us trying to take ourselves to the highest gear as best and as quickly as possible.”

No secrets spilled

Many West Indians play for various teams in the IPL and are good friends with the Indian players. However, Brathwaite said that it is a different ball game when it comes to playing for your country. It is “war” according to him.

“It can help us, it can help them as well. So wouldn’t be any trade secrets lost between the two teams but yeah we are good friends off the field. But once you cross the line, you come to represent your country and friendships don’t happen out on the park. We get on the park, there is war, it is country vs country,” the Windies skipper concluded.