Jason Roy

Gautam Gambhir doesn’t feel David Warner should return purely on the basis of a ‘farewell match’. The talks of David Warner getting a recall for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s match against Mumbai Indians are raging on the internet.

David Warner could feature for SRH in their final match against MI. David Warner hasn’t featured for SRH in the last 4 games but could return against MI on Friday. The match has been labelled as David Warner’s ‘farewell’ at Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, the Australian dashing opener is neither expected to be retained by the franchise nor likely to draw bids in IPL 2022 auction.

Gautam Gambhir Doesn’t Understand Farewells As Gautam Gambhir Feels SRH’s Job Is To Win Matches, Not Give Farewells

As Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) gear up for their final match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign, talks of David Warner potentially getting a recall are raging on the internet. While there’s no denying that England opener Jason Roy has dislodged David Warner at the top of the batting order, many reckon if David Warner would be given a possible farewell match. However, former India cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, isn’t on board with the idea.

With the race for the playoffs well over for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the past few matches have been quite inconsequential as far as their fate for the season is concerned. Friday’s match against Mumbai Indians (MI) would be no different. In such a scenario, the sentiments of fans and David Warner’s relationship with the franchise could see the Australian opener making a return.

Gautam Gambhir said that he doesn’t believe in farewell matches, and hence, David Warner should only make a return if he is a part of the team’s best XI. Gautam Gambhir mentioned that it is not mandatory to be presenting farewell to the legends of the game, and he wanted SRH to pick a playing XI through which they can win the game.

“See, a lot of great players didn’t get farewells. We all know that even some legends didn’t, although legend is a big word. I don’t understand this system of farewells. Ultimately, you are playing to win the match. If your best playing XI includes him, then absolutely give him a chance. If not, then absolutely don’t give him a chance. As simple as it gets. SunRisers’ job is to win matches and not give farewells,” said the cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir. 

David Warner has been SRH’s captain for a long time and also the only man to have led the franchise to an IPL title (in 2016). With a few orange caps to his name too, he has unarguably been one of the finest batters in the Indian Premier League history. However, the season 2021 has been quite contrasting for the southpaw.

David Warner Had A Poor IPL 2021

A string of unimpressive performances saw him being stripped of captaincy responsibility and being dropped to the bench. David Warner returned to feature for SRH in the franchise’s first two matches of the UAE leg before being snubbed for the remaining four.

In all likeliness, the IPL 2021 season will be the last for David Warner in SRH colours. However, with the next season set to see a mega auction take place, the chances of David Warner being retained or bought in the auction remain relatively slim.

David Warner’s relationship with SRH unravelled quite stunningly over the course of IPL 2021. The left-handed opener, who scored in excess of 500 runs in six consecutive IPL seasons for the franchise besides taking them to multiple playoffs and a title triumph in 2016, was stripped of his leadership duties during the first leg. In addition to that, David Warner was also dropped from SRH’s playing XI.

He was the Orange Cap winner in 2015, 2017, and 2019, having amassed 4014 runs in 95 games for the franchise at a whopping average of 49.56 and striking at 142.59. He is still the IPL’s 5th highest scorer, having amassed 5449 runs in 150 games averaging 41.59 with 4 tons and 50 fifties. He has hit the maximum number of the fifties in IPL history.