Will be blown away if Warner doesn’t set the IPL alight: Watson

Delhi Capitals have lost four on the trot, and in all those games, they have pretty much looked like a lost unit. However, one of their biggest positives this season has been David Warner’s runs. While the runs have come at an average of 52.25, the strike-rate has been a big concern – 114.84. Only once before this season, Warner had a strike-rate of under 110 – in 2021. 

Even in Delhi’s loss against Mumbai, the southpaw scored a 47-ball 51, with six boundaries having a strike-rate of just 108.51. Despite his stuttering form, Warner was well-backed by Delhi’s assistant coach, Shane Watson. Watson further insisted that he would be blown away if the left-hander doesn’t set the IPL alight. 

"The other night, Dave [Warner] definitely had a [much] more fearless mindset with the way he was batting," Watson said on the Grade Cricketer podcast. "He was taking the game on… yes, he missed a few balls that in the past he would have hit for four or six, he's mis-hit a couple of balls, but that's all part of Dave just working through the technical side of his game.

Having seen Warner from close quarters, the former CSK all-rounder insisted that there are a few things that the left-hander is working on. 

"That's also part of my role as well, as a coach. Because I know Dave so well from batting with him and playing with him, there's one or two little things that I know he'll get right over the next couple of days and I'll be blown away if he doesn't - yes, he's been scoring runs, but from a scoring perspective - if he doesn't set the IPL alight from now on, knowing that he's so close.

"He's batting very nicely. He's just mis-hitting some balls that he'd normally hit for four or six. Once you do that, once you start really finding the middle of your bat, then your scoring rate just goes through the roof."

On Delhi’s own form – four losses on the trot – Watson insisted that the coaching staff, led by Ricky Ponting are working constantly with the team, in helping them get over such situations. 

"It's never perfect when you lose your first four games," Watson said, "but that is the beauty of having someone with the skill of Ricky Ponting as a coach, and just his understanding of people. That's the beauty of being a coach, to be able to help the guys where they need it.