David Warner, the explosive opening batter from Australia, is set to miss the first two matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season for his new team, the Delhi Capitals. The news has left fans and cricket experts wondering about the impact of his absence on the team’s performance.
Warner, who has been a consistent performer in the IPL for several years now, was retained by the Delhi Capitals in the 2023 auction for a whopping INR 5.5 crore. He was expected to be a key player for the team, bringing his experience and aggressive batting style to the top of the order.
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However, the left-hander has been ruled out of the first two matches of the season due to a minor injury. While the exact nature of the injury is not known, the team management has confirmed that Warner is expected to recover in time for the third match.
With Warner unavailable, the Delhi Capitals will need to look for a suitable replacement for the opening slot. Here are three players who could fill in for the Australian:
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1) Jason Roy: The hard-hitting opener from England has been in fine form in recent years, both in international cricket and in T20 leagues around the world. Roy has the ability to take the game away from the opposition with his aggressive strokeplay and could be a good fit at the top of the order for the Delhi Capitals.
2) Martin Guptill: The New Zealand opener is another player who could be a good replacement for Warner. Guptill has been a regular in T20 leagues around the world and has a wealth of experience in the shortest format of the game. Guptill is known for his explosive batting and could provide the Delhi Capitals with the kind of start they need.
3) Dawid Malan: The England batter is well-known for his T20 skills, and has been a consistent performer in ODIs as well. Malan could be a good option for the Delhi Capitals if they are looking for a more stable opening batter.
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While Warner’s absence will be a blow to the Delhi Capitals, they have enough firepower in their squad to cope with the setback. The team boasts of some of the best T20 players in the world, including Prithvi Shaw, Rovman Powell, and Rilee Russouw, and they will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign.
The Delhi Capitals are one of the strongest teams in the IPL, and with Warner expected to return for the third match, the team will be looking to build some momentum in his absence and set themselves up for a strong season.