Not Virat Kohli Or Rohit Sharma!! Greg Chappell Names The Only Indian Player Ahead Of David Warner In Modern-Day Cricket

Former Australia Batter and Indian National Team’s head coach from 2005-2007, Greg Chappell in a recent column write-up at the Sydney Morning Herald, claimed that David Warner is only behind former Indian Opener Virender Sehwag when it comes to the Most destructive opening batter in the modern era of Cricket.

As we all know, David Warner is playing in the final Test series of his decorated career which started way back in 2011. He will be playing his final Red-ball match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the last Test of the 3-match series against Pakistan from 3rd January onwards.

The Aussies have already clinched the series after winning both of the previous tests, the first at Perth’s Optus Stadium by 360 runs, followed by a 79-run Boxing Day 2nd test win at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In the 1st Test, it was David Warner who had laid the foundation for Australia’s one-sided victory which saw the visitors getting all out for just 89 runs while trying to chase down a gigantic total of 450 runs. Warner in his first Test appearance since July 2023, played out a fantastic knock of 164 runs off 211 deliveries to help Australia post 487 as the 1st inning total.

In response, Pakistan were all out for 271 and Australia in the 2nd inning, declared for 233/5. While David Warner was expected to continue his rhythm and momentum from the first inning, the 37-year-old went to the dressing room for a duck off 5 deliveries by pacer Khurram Shahzad.

Then in his last Test outing at the MCG, Warner was not able to replicate his 1st inning knock at Perth as he got out for scores of 38 and 6 respectively with Australia winning by 79 runs by the 3rd session of Day 4.

In his last Test outing at the SCG, the Pocket-size dynamite will be hoping to score a Century and get some runs under his belt in his last appearance wearing whites.

“Only Virender Sehwag has been more damaging than David Warner as an opener”, Greg Chappell Wrote

In his column at the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Chappell claimed that former Indian Opener Virender Sehwag, whom Chappell has coached during his time as the Head coach of India, is the only Batsman having an extra edge over David Warner as the Most Destructive opener in Modern Cricket.

Sehwag at the time of his retirement, had 8586 runs in Test cricket including 23 Centuries and 32 half-centuries at an average of 49.34. In contrast, David Warner has 8596 runs in Tests with 26 Hundreds and 36 Fifties with an average of 44.58.

Both of them have in fact played with each other while opening for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League from 2011 to 2013.

“David will never live down the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ incident. That scar on Australian cricket needs to be owned by a lot more people than Warner and Bancroft. Warner’s role in the success of Australian cricket during his time cannot be underestimated. In the modern era, only Virender Sehwag has been more damaging than Warner as an opener.” – Chappell said.

“I know how hard it is to do what he has done through 111 Tests, so I hope that David’s harshest critics acknowledge his talent and contribution and forgive his human frailties. I hope Sydney farewells David Warner fondly next week. Whatever one thinks of him, David Warner has been fantastic for Australian cricket.” – Chappell added.