Rihanna's classmate to play for Delhi Daredevils in IPL

Bengaluru: The gentleman’s game received a huge boost ever since the Twenty20 format was introduced, New Zealand facing off with their close neighbours Australia in February 2005, the Aussies scampering away with the win by 44 runs marking a historic moment in cricket.

A decade and a year later, cricket has evolved since, with a plethora of T20 tournaments cropping up. Players too have increased their fan base and have, in a way turned stars almost overnight. While in the West footballers are known to have connections and share relationships with Hollywood pop stars, cricketers too now.

Don’t believe us? Well, according to cricket commentator Gautam Bhimani’s recent tweet, West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite and internationally renowned pop-star Rihanna were classmates.

Brathwaite was sold to the Delhi Daredevils (DD) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Saturday for Rs 4.2 crore.

The West Indies all-rounder has been one of the most reliable players in the side which is now undergoing a transition phase. “Excite to be part of @IPL and @DelhiDaredevils Giving thanks,” he tweeted.

Brathwaite has been instrumental for his team, both with the bat and ball in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and also came out with flying colours during the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December last year, which West Indies lost but he managed to show some resilience.

Superstar singer and song-writer Rihanna needs no introduction. She rose to widespread prominence and became a household name with the release of her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad in 2007, and its chart-topping single Umbrella.

One wonders where did Brathwaite and Rihanna met but it sure does raise a few eye-brows. Given his inclusion in the side, it will be interesting to see if the pop icon does manage to cheer for her childhood classmate this season.