Calcutta: Carlos Brathwaite understands it well that he will be scrutinise minutely on being the West Indies T20I captain for the two T20Is versus India in Fort Lauderdale.
However, the 'blessing' from former captain Darren Sammy and encouragement from other senior pros will make the job easier for him, Brathwaite believes.
"He (Sammy) just told me, 'Congratulations'. He heard it before I spoke to him and he just said, 'Congratulations, it's a big challenge'.
"He gave me his blessing and as a senior guy appreciated it, which allowed me to ease into the role. I haven't officially started yet, but those words made my transition into the role easier.
"It was a good vote of confidence speaking to Sammy. I then saw him at a charity event and also saw some of the other senior guys... Have been hearing positive things from all of them, which should make things easy for me," Brathwaite said at a media conference in Port of Spain.
Brathwaite came into limelight mainly because of his four consecutive sixes when the West Indies required 19 off the last over of the World T20 final at Eden Gardens earlier this year. Those four hits were certainly significant in elevating him as captain of the T20I side. He also admitted that before accepting the captaincy, he had sought clarification from the selectors on their expectations of him. "Yes there was some hesitation initially.
"I wanted to contact my family and my advisers before I took the job. It is an honour and I would never say I didn't want to take it. But obviously, I had some questions that I asked the selection panel before I took the job.
"I just wanted to clarify why they wanted me and what they expected of me. I also wanted to know my role having taken up the job," Brathwaite said.
Brathwaite emphasised on his teammates being mature enough to handle a change in leadership. He also feels it won't be difficult for him to lead this team.
"I believe a team like this will be pretty easy to lead. The dressing room is a fun place to be. I don't think it's a place where I have to deal with too many egos.
"The guys enjoy each other's company. It's just a matter for me to go out there, do the things that I can do firstly as a player and then a captain, and then continue to mould the team that Darren had started to, efficiently.
"Again, the most important thing is getting victories for the West Indies. As a new leader, things might change bit by bit. But at the end of the day, it's just about adjusting and then for me to find ways for the team to continue winning.
"I really don't want to get too deep into the psychology of changing leaders and stuff like that. I think all the guys are mature enough. We have had cases where some of the guys were captains and then they played the next series under a different leader.
"We are professionals. We all know what we have to do once we are out there. I hope my leadership can motivate the team to keep winning," Brathwaite said. Dropped from the next three Tests despite getting an unbeaten 51 in the opening Test against India, Brathwaite said the feedback from the selectors about his exclusion gave him a chance to become a better all-round player.
"Look, I want to be the best I can be. I want to make myself available in all three formats for the West Indies and I obviously don't want to set goals I haven't been able to fulfil as yet," he said.
