IPL 2022 | Big boost for DC as Warner joins team

Australian opener David Warner landed in Mumbai and has joined Delhi Capitals (DC) for the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Warner missed the first couple of games for DC as he was part of the Australia squad for the recently-concluded Test series in Pakistan. He will now undergo the mandatory 3-day quarantine before joining the DC squad. 

"Delhi Capitals' batter David Warner arrived at the team hotel in Mumbai on Saturday. Warner is currently undergoing a mandatory 3-day quarantine before stepping out of his room," the franchise said in a statement.

The Australian opener will be available for the Capitals from the next game against Lucknow Super Giants, scheduled to be played on 7 April. 

Rishabh Pant & Co. played their opening game against Mumbai Indians with only two overseas players, namely Rovman Powell & Tim Seifert. However, they added Mustafizur Rahman as the third overseas player in the next encounter against Gujarat Titans on Saturday (2 April). 

Warner, the highest run-scorer in IPL among overseas players, will be coming back to Delhi Capitals after 13 years as he started his IPL journey with the same franchise before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Australian legend has also won a trophy with Hyderabad (2016) and remained one of their top run-getters for several seasons. 

Delhi jerked the services of the Australian opener in IPL mega auction for INR 6.4 Crore. Warner had seen a disappointing 2021 IPL season with the bat, scoring 195 runs in eight innings at an average of 24.37 and a strike rate of 107.73. Later, he was sacked as captain of SRH and eventually dropped by the franchise. 

DC started their tournament campaign with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians. However, they failed to continue their winning momentum as they succumbed to a 14 run defeat against Gujarat on Saturday in Pune.