NEWS
Follow UsWhen Pat Cummins walked out to toss on November 19 (Sunday), Australia were not a definite favourite to win the 2023 ODI World Cup. In front of a massive home crowd (over 1,00,000), five-time ODI World Cup winners Australia were always going to be an underdog.
Only when they bowled India out for just 240 did it feel like Australia had a strong chance of lifting the coveted trophy. Australia’s plans were evident when they bowled a passage of 13 overs where India couldn’t get any boundaries. How did Australia prepare for that clash despite the conditions being alien?
2023 ODI World Cup-winning opener David Warner spilled the beans, revealing that the Men in Yellow had their game plans structured around the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the biggest grounds in the game. Ahmedabad’s square boundaries weren’t too different, and that’s why their plans were quite perfect.
"I think we embraced the fact that we didn't have anything to lose. We are fortunate to have understood the conditions and the venues from 2009. And Ahmedabad was the venue where the boundaries were similar to Australia," Warner told Ravichandran Ashwin on the show ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’.
"Our gameplan was structured around the MCG -- hit the pockets, run the twos and if we're bowling, bowl it to the chest and target the big boundaries. So for us, it was like Australian gameplan in India. That's what we thought about and tried to attack that situation,” he added.
Warner was amongst one of the Australians who had plenty of experience playing in Indian conditions, having played the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009. The southpaw insisted that it was the IPL experience that helped him assess the wickets much better.
"It helps; it definitely helps to be part of the IPL and playing on all these wickets. You understand the conditions and the type of soil used, whether it's black soil or red soil. Is it going to turn in the first innings or turn in the second innings, you sort of get that great understanding," Warner added.
Warner’s IPL episode
Despite leading the Sunrisers Hyderabad to an IPL title in 2016, things started becoming sour very quickly between the franchise and the Australian batter. It went to a level where the opener was left behind in the hotel room, after which they parted ways.
During his time with the Sunrisers, Warner had already captured the audience in his favour, playing an aggressive brand of cricket. Not only that, but the 37-year-old was also constantly involved in engaging with the fans via social media, which made him relatable to a lot of people in the state.
But once they parted ways, Warner revealed how he was left hurt by the franchise because his leaving hurt the fans.
"It did (hurt) because it was a sense of like hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have. The engagement with the fans that I had, with the team that I had was very good. Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they keep coming back. That's what is most important,” Warner talked about him moving away from SRH.
Now, Warner is one of the biggest celebrities in the Indian ecosystem, with numerous brand deals in the country. The 37-year-old revealed that he would love to settle down in India once his career in the sport comes to an end.
"I don't (have a house in India). I did look at some stages. I get a lot of people asking me if I want a house here. One day, maybe when I finish my cricket, I would like to come here and spend some time. Lifestyle is good. I am a people's person. I go to the malls with my girls and I embrace everything," said Warner.
