Bravo, Gayle or Sammy, it’s hard to ‘pacify’ Caribbean flair
JAIPUR: Imagine India's domestic T20 league without the West Indians. It wouldn't be half as fun. Not only would we have missed out on some breathtaking performances, the entertainment and style quotient too would have plunged.
“This cricket is racy, exciting, something that suits us really well. Most of the guys can dance, we have the flair, it just comes naturally to us,” said Darren Sammy, explaining their uninhibited celebrations on the field.
The ever-smiling West Indies skipper, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, too made his contribution to the heady Caribbean concoction of performance and entertainment when he sucked on a pacifier to celebrate his half century. “It's my pacifier. My young daughter sucks on this, and I brought it along for inspiration and luck. It worked today, so I will keep using it,” he said, holding it tenderly in his hands.
Of course there are others too. While Chris Gayle has the spectators going bananas across franchisees, as much with Gangnam moves as his power-packed hitting, Kolkata Knight Riders’ mystery spinner Sunil Narine gets a lot of attention for his well kept Mohawk and heavy gold chain that could put Bappi Lahiri to shame. So obsessed is he with his hairdo that he wouldn't even put on the purple cap.
GREAT CHARACTERS
“The West Indians are great characters. We too have a couple of them (Kevin Cooper and Fidel Edwards) and it's always fun to have them around,” said James Faulkner, the Australian paceman who plays for Rajasthan Royals.
“The T20 World Cup win and the consistently good performance by the guys like Gayle, Bravo and (Kieron) Pollard in the league have inspired and motivated everyone back home. Everyone wants to do well, match the high standards,” said Sammy.
Whoever said not to mix pleasure with business need to think again. These West Indians are doing just fine!