"Don't Come and Play in IPL", Virender Sehwag Lashes Out at David Warner

image-lg91uyn0David Warner has scored at a poor strike rate in IPL 2023 [Source: AP]

Former Indian cricketer, Virender Sehwag, has lambasted David Warner's performance during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Match 11 between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals on Saturday in Guwahati.

Delhi lost the game by a massive margin of 57 runs, placing them at risk of sinking to the bottom of the table should Sunrisers Hyderabad triumph over the Punjab Kings in their next game. Sehwag expressed his disappointment with Warner's lacklustre batting display during the match, which saw the captain scoring 65 off 55 balls at a strike rate of 118.

The former Indian opener remarked that the Australian cricketer needed to perform better. He suggested that he learn from Rajasthan opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's swift innings, which saw him score runs at a strike rate of 200.

"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," said Sehwag while speaking on Cricbuzz after the match.

Sehwag also opined that Warner's slow approach prevented Delhi's big hitters from coming into play earlier in the game, preventing them from reducing the margin of defeat. In the Indian veteran's view, it would have been more advantageous for Delhi's team if the southpaw had gotten out earlier during the match rather than continuing to play on and scoring 55-60 runs.

According to Sehwag, other players such as Rovman Powell and Ishan Porel, who are known for their prowess as big hitters, could have come out to bat much earlier in the game, thereby increasing their chances of making a significant impact on the match's outcome.

"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 team," concluded the erstwhile cricketer.