Delhi Daredevils’ CEO feels Carlos Brathwaite will bring fans to the stadium

Delhi Daredevils Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hemant Dua feels that Carlos Brathwaite’s stunning effort in the World T20 final will have a positive effect on the franchise and will bring more fans to the stadium to see the team in action. The West Indies began the final over in the summit clash against England, bowled by Ben Stokes, needing 19 runs to win and pulled off the match in astounding fashion thanks to some massive hits by the burly all-rounder.

Brathwaite, playing his first major tournament, launched sixes over long leg, long-on, long-off and deep midwicket off the first four balls to complete one of the greatest finishes in the game. He also bowled well and produced an impressive spell of 3/23 that kept England in check. He had also hit a six in the final over against South Africa to take his team over the line in a tense match in Nagpur.

“Any kind of performance by a cricketer, who plays for your franchise, helps to bring in the confidence back. What he did was not easy to do under pressure on a platform like a World Cup final. Such a performance will definitely help the fans regain the lost. It’s good to bring those people back in the stadium,” Dua told PTI about Brathwaite, who was bought for Rs.4.2 crore during the IPL auctions earlier this year.

Dua said he is happy but it’s not a sense of vindication considering that the franchise was asked the reason behind their aggressive bidding for the big West Indian. “I don’t call it vindication. Any athlete can be a performer on his day. It was his day. We went in as a franchise. We saw talent and spark and that’s why we bought him,” the CEO said.

“If we look at the West Indies side, there was not a single match-winner. There was a Chris Gayle, a Lendl Simmons, a Marlon Samuels, everyone performed. That’s how we expect it in Delhi Daredevils. It was Brathwaite’s day and he performed. Similarly, there will be Negi, Chris Morris, Mayank Agarwal or a Shreyas Iyer performing for the team,” he said highlighting the importance of team work. Dua also seemed confident that skipper Zaheer Khan won’t have fitness concerns during the tournament, where the schedule is hectic.

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