AUS Vs PAK: Virender Sehwag Compares Himself To David Warner

There was a time, specifically from 2009-2013 when the Delhi Capitals (formerly Daredevils) used to terrorize their bowlers, thanks to their explosive opening pair of David Warner and Virender Sehwag. Two identical batters who played similarly throughout their respective careers and as the Australian sets up for his farewell test match at the SCG, Sehwag showed nothing but love and respect for him.

While speaking to Cricbuzz a couple of days ago in the context of Warner’s retirement, Sehwag aka Viru claimed that it was he who told David Warner that he could become one of the greatest in Test cricket during their time together with the Delhi Daredevils.

At that time, Warner might have laughed off but Sehwag knew that the Pocket size dynamite was going to go a long way in the red-ball format. Sehwag remembers seeing him in the nets and during his innings on the pitch and immediately thinking that he is an absolute Test product just like Viru himself.

Before Warner scored 8000+ runs in Test cricket and before he got into trouble while playing a Test match in South Africa, it were the words of Virender Sehwag that encouraged a young David Warner to believe that he was made for Test cricket.

Gregg Chappell Recognizes Similarity Between David Warner And Virender Sehwag

A couple of days ago, Sehwag’s former India national team head coach, Gregg Chappell claimed that if after Viru only David Warner has been the most damaging opener in Test cricket. Both of them know what it is like to score 8000+ runs and both of them know what is like to score a Triple Century in the longest format.

David Warner is behind Sehwag when it comes to maintaining a strike rate. The latter retired with a strike rate of 82.23 while the Australian southpaw has 70.26 before he plays the final test match of his career against Pakistan.

“David Warner’s And My Aggression Are The Best Part”

In the 1st test of his farewell test series against Pakistan at Perth’s Optus Stadium, David Warner played out an emphatic knock of 164 off 211 which eventually led to Australia claiming a win by a margin of 360 runs. His inning had come in the back of Mitchell Johnson’s public criticism of him in a column of a newspaper.

Warner has faced many difficulties due to his aggression both on and off the field with Micheal Clarke even claiming that he was lucky to not have his Central contract being ripped up early on in his career if it wasn’t for his seniors.

The lowest point in his career came in 2018 when David Warner along with Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft, and head coach Darren Lehman were found guilty of a deliberate attempt of Ball tampering in a test match in South Africa. As a backlash of it, Warner lost a year of his career and many even say that he hasn’t been the same as before.

But Virender Sehwag believes that he and Warner both were the type of players who are capable of scoring double or triple hundreds after a bad patch and it was solely due to their aggression. Viru also believes that it helps a certain player get a longer rope from team management even if one goes through a purple patch.