IPL 2022: I didn’t need any extra motivation while playing against SRH – David Warner

David Warner shared a very close bond with Sunrisers Hyderabad as he scored more than 4000 runs for the franchise.

He also led the team to glory in IPL 2016 and he won three Orange Caps with them. But it all came to a close when Warner was not treated well by the franchise’s management.

On Thursday, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, the Australian was up against his former team and he scored a match-winning knock of 92 runs off just 58 balls. Warner’s knock helped his team propel to 207 runs after he got the support from Rovman Powell, who ended up scoring 67 runs from 35 balls.

SRH could only manage 186-8 as they got off to a horrid start and Delhi grabbed two crucial points as they won by 21 runs. Warner was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock and he said he didn’t need any extra motivation while playing against his former team.

Warner was delighted to contribute to the team’s success as it was a much-needed win for Delhi Capitals.

Warner said in the post-match presentation, “It’s a really nice wicket, I’ve had some success here. I knew if I played my strokes, it was going to come off. Challenging here in Mumbai with the humidity and I was cooked there towards the back end, I am getting older. Having Rovman at the other end was amazing. I was glad he was at the other end. 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. It was a little bit silly of me to try and run fast (while batting with Powell). He hit some clean and … gee … they go a long way. And even Livo (Livingstone) the other day – 117m. These guys are clearing these fences like anything.”

He added, “(On playing the switch-hit) I thought he (Bhuvi) was going to bowl a yorker, it was wider. As I tried to turn, I actually saw Jos play one recently, so I practised that in the nets. I bat right-handed in the nets against the spinners sometimes. You gotta try these shots. I premeditated to try and reverse it, but when it was bowled there, I just tried to back-cut it and it came off. I said to him (Powell), I am running two no matter what and I don’t care if I get run-out. I am just glad he could clear the fence.”

On the other hand, Anrich Nortje made a return to the team after almost a month and he got the crucial wicket of SRH captain Kane Williamson, who struggled to get going.

Nortje said after the game, “Just a relief to be out in the middle, nice to be playing and nice to get into some rhythm. You need to set realistic standards, it’s been a while getting out, playing a game is completely different to just bowling in the nets. Getting the basics right is quite important for me, since the last game I was working on my rhythm and needed to focus on a bit of skill coming into this game, feeling happy to be out there. He’s (Khaleel) been bowling really the whole tournament, everyone has been bowling well. Certain stages we’re gonna get hit and it’s hard to protect the short side and becomes a little predictable, but I think the boys bowled really well under pressure which is nice to see. Best of chance of succeeding (as a bowler) is to keep your mind clear and focus on committing whatever you are thinking about.”

Delhi Capitals will next face Chennai Super Kings at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Sunday.