HYDERABAD, India, CMC – Sunrisers Hyderabad yesterday won their eighth match in 10 outings to top the Indian Premier League standings but not for the first time this season, West Indies Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite played no part.
The 29-year-old big-hitting all-rounder, best known for his six-hitting exploits in the Twenty20 World Cup two years ago, has struggled to break in to the Sunrisers XI and is yet to play a single game for the franchise.
He was picked up in the draft last January for US$314 640 after two largely underwhelming seasons with Delhi Daredevils where he played only 1o matches, but hopes of reviving his IPL career have subsequently hit a snag through lack of opportunity.
Early in the tournament, Brathwaite said he had been cautioned by head coach Tom Moody that he would not play a central role in the campaign.
“He said my position in the squad is of a rotational player, and I will have to be patient for opportunities,” the Barbadian said recently.
“There are 14 matches, so it depends on opposition, grounds and conditions, as well as form.”
Sunrisers play again on Thursday when they take on Delhi Daredevils before clashing with Dwayne Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings on Sunday and Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 17.
Their final game will be against Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders two days later.
Yesterday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers posted 146 all out off their 20 overs, with captain Kane Williamson top-scoring with 56 from 39 deliveries.
The hosts then restricted RCB to 141 for six, to earn a narrow five-run victory.I
