David Warner's future in Test cricket may be uncertain, but his reputation in white-ball cricket remains intact. He will lead the Delhi Capitals in the IPL as regular captain Rishabh Pant continues to recover from a car accident last year.
This is not the first time Warner has captained Delhi Capitals; he previously served as their interim captain between 2009 and 2013. He later moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014 and took over as captain in 2015, leading them to their first title in 2016. As captain, Warner has a strong record, having won 35 out of the 69 matches he has led in the tournament, making him the fifth-best captain in the IPL.
Warner will be working alongside Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who serves as head coach for the Delhi Capitals. In the previous season, Warner was the leading run-scorer for the Capitals, with 432 runs at an average of 48.
Although the 36-year-old is currently in India with the Australian ODI squad, it is unclear if he will be ready for the opening clash on Friday, following his recovery from a fractured elbow sustained during the second Test. His absence from the team opened up opportunities for Travis Head, who performed well in the top order. This has led to some speculation about Warner's future in Test cricket, particularly after his early series failures. However, Australian coach Andrew McDonald has assured fans that Warner remains a crucial part of the national team's plans for the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval in July. Despite retirement rumors, McDonald believes that each player's path is unique, and they will address the situation when the time comes.
