The ban on Australian cricketers, David Warner and Steven Smith, for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test last year got over yesterday. Meanwhile, due to their ban, Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council also didn’t allow both cricketers to feature in the IPL last year to send a strong message across the cricketing fraternity. However, both Warner and Smith have returned to action this year and Warner’s teammate at Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Sandeep Sharama admitted that they are not treating him differently.
The ongoing league is the only preparation for David Warner and Smith before they return to the Australia squad for the ICC World Cup. While Warner has made a stunning comeback, Steven Smith had a relatively dull outing. SRH might have lost the match, but Warner’s knock garnered praise from experts and fans alike. Warner looked quite comfortable against the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers, and he was unfortunate to miss out on a century as he got out for 85 off 53 balls.
Great to have Warne back
Sandeep Sharma admitted that having David Warner again is a massive boost for the team. The 25-year-old Sharma who joined Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018, is sharing the dressing room with Warner for the first time. He hailed the swashbuckling batsman and noted that Warner once proved why he is one of the best in the game.
Sandeep also added that they are treating differently with Warner because of what has happened in the last year.
“It is great to have David Warner back in the team. Everyone knows how good he is and it is brilliant to have him in the dressing room. He has been a great performer for Sunrisers in the past seasons and in the last match, he showed once again why he is regarded so highly in white ball cricket,” Sharma told the Hindustan Times.
“We are not thinking about what happened last year and we are not treating him any differently. Nothing has changed for him or for any of us in the team,” Sandeep Sharma added.
Meanwhile, David Warner will look to continue his form in the next outing as well when Sunrisers Hyderabad faces Rajasthan Royals. The southpaw will have to lead the batting unit from the front and bring them to winning ways.