The Aussie spark will be missing from the Delhi Daredevils’ frontline. David Warner was apparently too costly for Delhi.
Even before the start of the Airtel Champions League Twenty20, Delhi Daredevils seem to be on the brink. As if injury woes weren’t enough, the team apparently made a ‘sacrifice’ by asking Australian dasher David Warner to stay put with his ‘home’ team, the New South Wales Blues.
According to New South Wales team sources, reports in the media about Warner “choosing” to play for the Blues were actually an “eyewash”.
“Delhi didn’t want him. They told him to stay away, so what was he supposed to do? Obviously we’re glad that a player of his caliber is going to play for us in the Champions League,” said a senior NSW team member.
Apparently, if Delhi had picked Warner for the tournament, they would have had to pay USD 200,000 as compensation to NSW. At a time, when Daredevils’ funds are not exactly overflowing, the decision to omit Warner looks pragmatic.
Since the Indian Premier League II in South Africa, quite a few Delhi decisions have been perplexing. The team’s apathy towards foreign players was palpable. Australian legend Glenn McGrath was kept on the bench, while Englishmen Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah and all-rounders Andrew McDonald (Australia) and Farveez Maharoof (Sri Lanka) were not given chances to exhibit their talent on the field.
But ahead of the inaugural Champions League, Delhi seem to be in shambles and could even face an early exit. While South African AB De Villiers is out of the side due to a back injury, Collingwood’s buttock injury is definitely a pain at the wrong time. And with Daniel Vettori pulling up just ahead of the Champions Trophy final in Centurion, the Kiwi skipper looks doubtful for the Champions League.
Delhi did not even look a very intense lot at the Ferozshah Kotla on Monday. The players reached the ground around at 10am and headed straight for some fielding drills, which were limited to ground fielding and low catches.
Overnight rains may have played on the team management’s mind when the players skipped nets because the concrete wickets had puddles of water. “There is no point in risking any injuries before such a key tournament. We would rather wait for the conditions to get a little better,” a team source said.
After the training session, Daredevils coach David Sacker said he was not too worried about de Villiers’ absence, saying the team had enough ammunition to fill in for the powerful South African batsman.
But with a question-mark over Virender Sehwag’s match-fitness hovering over the team, Delhi will indeed need some daredevilry to pluck them out of any embarrassment.
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