Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has told a sensitive story about Delhi Capitals (DC) batsman Rowman Powell. He recalled that the cricketer promised his mother he would take them out of poverty when he was in secondary school.
After Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 4 wickets in a thrilling clash on Thursday. The 28-year-old played a crucial cameo of 33* off 16 balls.
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, former West Indies Ian Bishop lauded Powell, who has developed as a finisher for DC this season. Further, he urged cricket lovers to check out Powell’s story in order to understand his humble beginnings and the struggles that he went through to reach where he is today.
“If anyone has the opportunity of 10 minutes to spare, go and look at Rovman Powell’s life story – a video on YouTube. You will see why so many people, including me, are happy that this guy has gotten a taste of the IPL. He has come from humble beginnings.
He promised his mom that he will take them out of poverty when he was still in secondary school. He is living that dream to do that. Great story.” said the legendary West Indian.
Born in the Bannister District of Old Harbor in Jamaica, Powell, along with his single mother and younger sister, faced a lot of hardships. A documentary produced by the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2020 narrates his emotional rags-to-riches story.
The 28-year-old Power hitter, the most devastating member of the West Indies team, made his international debut on 16 November 2016 against Sri Lanka. In his first ODI, he scored a quickfire 44 off 29 balls.
he has scored 786 runs in 37 ODIs for the West Indies, including two half-centuries and one century. His ODI average is 25.35. The devastating middle-order batsman has also scored 619 runs in 39 Twenty20 Internationals. The highest score in an innings is 107. His average is 25.76 and he has one century and three half-centuries.
Shifting focus to the cricketer’s batting, Bishop said that he is more than a decent player and added:
“I was trying to think back about his hundred against Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali in the Caribbean. He averaged 43 against India with these same spinners in India last February. He has improved a lot, is very good against seam and shows a great temperament.”
Powell had a poor start to his IPL 2022 campaign, registering a mere highest score of 20 in his first five matches for DC, which included two ducks. He found some form with his 15-ball 36 against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a losing cause.
Sharing his views on the West Indies smasher, former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori opined that DC could utilize him better by sending him higher in the order and stated:
“I think Powell can sneak up that order. There is no reason why he cannot get in ahead of someone like a Lalit Yadav.”
The 28-year-old came into bat at No. 6 on Thursday. In Delhi’s previous match against RR, he was sent in at No. 8.