(Image Source: Cricket Australia)
[Saba Sports News] Virender Sehwag and David Warner, two of cricket’s most aggressive batters, created a formidable opening pair in the IPL, playing for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). Warner, who played for Delhi from 2009-2013 and returned in 2022, led the team in 2023 during Rishabh Pant’s absence.
Sehwag, recalling their time together, shared his early belief in Warner’s potential in Test cricket, despite Warner being new to international T20 and ODI formats and not being considered for Test selection. “When David Warner came to play for Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2009, he’d just made his T20I and ODI debuts. But the way he used to bat and hit the ball, I could see he had all the talent and the control you need in a Test batter,” Sehwag shared..
Warner, initially skeptical about his Test prospects, later messaged Sehwag expressing gratitude for his encouragement after making it to the Australian Test team. Sehwag humorously urged Warner to break all his records, except for the strike-rate.
Warner’s Batting Style Impresses Sehwag
Sehwag observed Warner’s approach in the nets and his IPL performances, noting his consistent treatment of off-stump deliveries as boundary opportunities across formats. This led Sehwag to confidently predict Warner’s success in red-ball cricket.
Warner’s Remarkable Test Career
In his last Test match against Pakistan in Sydney, Warner, aged 37, continued to impress with his ability to convert good deliveries into scoring opportunities. Sehwag praised Warner’s skill in hitting boundaries even off good balls and disrupting bowlers’ strategies, especially as a left-hander.
Sehwag highlighted Warner’s unique capability of both defending and attacking efficiently, a trait that has distinguished Warner in the cricketing world.