As David Warner left an almost capacity Hyderabad home stadium last night, the faithful were on their feet farewelling their champion left-handed batsman who will rejoin the Australian World Cup squad in Brisbane on Thursday.
Warner had thrilled the 32,047 spectators with 81 off 55 with seven fours and two sixes despite the sapping 40-degree heat.
That took his 2019 IPL campaign to 692 runs off 481 balls with 57 fours and 21 sixes, at an average of 69.20 and a strike rate of 144.17.
He leaves India with an unbeaten ton and eight half-centuries to his name from just 12 digs, a phenomenally consistent campaign – the best in the tournament.
So successful was his contribution that the individual digs demand recognition in chronological order:
85 off 53 with nine fours and three sixes.
69 off 37 with 9/2.
100* off 55 – 5/5.
10 off 18 – 0/0.
15 off 13 – 2/0.
70* off 62 – 6/1.
51 off 47 – 3/1.
50 off 25 – 3/1.
67 off 38 – 3/5.
57 off 45 – 3/2.
37 off 32 – 0/0.
81 off 55 – 7/2.
In the process, he helped Sunrisers Hyderabad to seven good starts thanks to some excellent opening partnerships with Englishman Jonny Bairstow.
Bairstow returned to England to prepare for the World Cup, so Warner had to open last night with Wriddhiman Saha – it didn’t matter, though as they put on 78 off 6.2 overs.
(Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)
All up, Hyderabad have scored over 600 runs in their opening partnerships, so it’s little wonder the Sunrisers are in line for a semi-final berth.
But there are many pundits and Roarers who want Warner to bat three in the World Cup behind Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja.
No way.
Warner is also well in front in the race for the coveted Orange Cap award as the IPL’s leading run-getter this season. KL Rahul is next on 520, still some 172 runs in arrears of the Australian. Andre Russell (486), Shikhar Dhawan (451) and Chris Gayle (448) round out the top five.
Only Warner and Gayle have donned the Orange Cap twice. The big West Indian topped the runscoring charts in 2011 and 2012 with 608 and 733 runs respectively, while Warner did the double in 2015 and 2017.
For the record, Virat Kohli holds the highest runs scored, set in 2016, with a massive 973 that included seven half-centuries and four centuries.
But it’s David Warner who has been the talk of this tournament.
Steve Smith will end his IPL campaign tonight.
He has slowly regained his form after his 12-month suspension and elbow surgery, but he’s been more consistent since he took over the Rajasthan Royals captaincy.
Ink in both Warner and Smith as vital cogs in the Australian machinery to retain the World Cup.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
David, the main reason why many people want Warner batting 3-6 isn't because they haven't got faith in him to do the job of opening, it's because they fear changing the make-up of the side will unsettle their winning form. Since Khawaja and Finch have started opening together, they have gotten us to excellent starts and have averaged something like 70+ for the first wicket. Warner is obviously a much better batsman than both of them, no one is doubting that, just that people are hesitant to change a winning formula, and slotting Warner somewhere in the middle order affects that much less than having him open.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
The warner 37 off 32 balls with no boundaries shows that he can certainly play lower down the order and not rely soley on boundaries ala Finch and Khawaja. Warner at 4 and Smith at 3 would be great. keeps the left right combo going to.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I think David is right. Finch, in spite of that amazing return to form, hasn’t made me confident that he’s not vulnerable to quality swing bowling early in the innings. Similarly, Khawaja more often than not struggles straight up against spin. Warner and Khawaja to open with finch at 3 I think is the best combination.
Simoc
Guest
Warner is an opener and one of only two world class batsman in the team. Such small mindedness of CA to pull the players out of the worlds biggest tournament to prove something or other, mainly that they're collectively stupid. Same with England. There will be nothing gained playing the NZ 2nd Xl in backyard cricket somewhere in Brisbane. NZs top players are at the IPL playing with the best. England at least are playing a full strength Pakistani side.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Smith and Warner finding form and England finding pot, things are looking good. I would have Warner opening, the longer he bats the better.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Wow impressive stuff. How aggressive can he be in 50 over cricket? The batting order will be interesting. Khawaja has to open, Warner opening with him means two lefties. I agree with the others, Warner can bat anywhere and this is 50 oveer cricket, not 20 over cricket. You don't go as hard from the start. Maybe Smith/Warner at 3/4, not sure which way around. Maxwell/Stoinis at 5/6, Carey and the bowlers. Still short on batting with Carey in, but he can perform a Bevan type role, pushing it into gaps to the set batsman, with the odd boundary.
Graham
Guest
One of warner or finch has to bat at 4 or lower to partner maxwell and give power down the innings Since finch is captain and Khawaja is open or bust I would imagine it would be warner Smith is 3 or bust in this format imo as well
Paul
Roar Guru
"But there are many pundits and Roarers who want Warner to bat three in the World Cup behind Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja. No way." David, the nice thing is Warner CAN bat down the order, if that best suits the side, because he can both hit and build an innings as his Test record indicates. I think this is one best left to the selectors and Finch. Still a nice problem to have