IPL 2023: Virender Sehwag Gives Verdict on David Warner’s Poor Form

IPL 2023: Former India opener Virender Sehwag lashed out at Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper David Warner for his scratchy innings against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Saturday (April 8). Delhi slumped to their third loss of the season despite their captain top-scoring with 65, Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the game by 57 runs.

In the case of 200 runs, DC’s skipper David Warner was the lone warrior. He opened the batting and batted for the majority of the innings. However, he was dismissed in the 19th over of the game. Warner scored 65 runs, while at the other end, batters were dismissed regularly. Lalit Yadav showed some effort with his 38 runs in 24 balls. In spite of that, the Delhi-based team fell short of the target, and could only post a total of 142/9 at the end of 20 overs. Although Warner batted for the major part of the innings, it wasn’t exactly the match-winning innings it may seem as Warner took 55 balls to achieve the total.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals batted and posted a total of 199/4, after the end of the first innings. RR openers, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 98 runs and gave the ideal start to their team. Buttler emerged as the highest scorer with 79 runs to his name but it was the 60-run knock coming from the blade of Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

IPL 2023: “Do Not Come and Play in the IPL,” Sehwag Slams Warner for His Poor Strike Rate

Speaking after the match, Virender Sehwag suggested Warner learn from Jaiswal how to play attacking cricket. Sehwag didn’t stop there, he further said that if Warner cannot play at a higher strike rate then the Australian legend should not come to take part in the IPL.

“David, if you are listening, please play well. Score 50 in 25 balls. Learn from Jaiswal, he hit in 25 balls. If you cannot do that, do not come and play in the IPL. It would have been better for the team if David Warner got out for 30 runs, rather than making 55-60. Players like Rovman Powell and Ishan Porel could have come out much earlier and maybe could have done anything. No balls were left for those players, and they are big hitters in the team,” said Virender Sehwag while speaking on Cricbuzz after the match.

So far in the IPL 2023, Warner has scored 158 runs in 3 matches at an average of 52 with two half-centuries. But he has a low strike rate of only 117. Notably, both his fifties came in a losing cause. The left-handed opening batter has faced 135 balls in 3 innings and surprisingly hasn’t been able to hit a single six yet. Delhi Capitals have lost all of their three league matches so far and are languishing at the bottom of the points table.