David Warner is considered as one of the all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) greats. However, there was a time when Warner was sent back home for fighting with a few players in the second season of IPL. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag recalled the time when Warner did not practice and partied more during his stint with Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils).
"I too have vented out my frustrations on a couple of players and David Warner was one of them. Because when he had joined newly, he partied more than believing in practice or playing matches. In the first year, he had a fight with a few players so we sent him back for the last two matches. So sometimes it happens that you keep someone out to teach them a lesson,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
In his debut IPL season, the Aussie scored 163 runs from seven games at an average of 23.29 including one half-century. Sehwag had recalled the incident before Delhi Capitals’ (DC) clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad where Warner faced his former franchise.
"He was new so it was important to show him that you alone are not important for the team, others are too. There are other players who can play and win the match for the team too. And that's what happened. We kept him out of the team and won as well," Sehwag revealed while speaking on Cricbuzz.
Now, the 35-year-old has 5,805 runs from 158 games at an average of 42.37 including four centuries and 54 half-centuries. He has most half-centuries in IPL history. Also, he is the fourth-highest run-scorer in the league. His tally of 5,764 runs is the highest for an overseas player in IPL.
Warner was exceptional against Kane Williamson-led SRH as he registered an unbeaten 92-run knock off 58 deliveries including 12 fours and three sixes.
“I didn't need extra motivation (playing against SRH), we've seen what's happened before in the past, it was good to get the win on the board,” Warner had told the broadcasters after winning the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
