David Warner and a not-so-impactful return

When the epilogue of the Indian Premier League’s reformative 20 years is written, David Warner will have a full chapter for himself. The Aussie opener may not be lauded in the same vein as Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma, but he will always be remembered for playing a key role in shaping the league as an all-conquering behemoth.

In the Instagram world, Warner is the coolest cricketer ever - thanks to a palpable sense of detachment with the sport while scoring runs like no one else. All of that has come together to make a persona so endearing and so wholesome among his Indian fans that he is now considering buying a house in India.

Yet, as the legend enters the final phase of his career - no, he’s not retiring at the end of the season - there’s a sense of full stop. One couldn’t help but get that feeling as Swapnil Singh sent him back to the hut for a solitary run after Warner's much-awaited return to the Capitals' XI. 

29, 49 and 52 in the first three games made Delhi Capitals believe in Warner’s form, and Prithvi Shaw’s fall from grace meant they had no other way to go, too. However, a finger injury to Warner ensured that Jake Fraser-McGurk would replace him. But that didn't take away the fact that Warner could only accumulate 37 runs in his next four games. 

Meanwhile, so impactful was JFM that no body had really felt the absence of Warner. 

It changed on May 12 (Sunday) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. An inspiring bowling performance from the visitors had restricted the home side to 187/9, a score that seemed below par at Chinnaswamy. And the absence of Rishabh Pant meant Warner had to fill in the big shoe - even though not in a like-to-like sense. 

Whether he had to anchor or slog alongside JFM was down to the team planning. Turned out he couldn’t survive long enough to dictate the eventuality. 

All it took for Swapnil Singh - RCB’s Impact Player - two deliveries to send the Sydneysider packing. Aiming for a massive slog-sweep, Warner ended up hitting it too wide of long-on to bring an uncharacteristic end to his innings. It opened the floodgate as DC found themselves at 30/4 in less than four overs. 

That made his average in the last five games down to less than eight runs.

Is it the end? Are we witnessing the grand farewell trip of Warner - the true-blue superstar? Even though Warner somehow builds himself up ahead of the next season, he would still be 38. He may not have the same demand in the auction to give himself the best chance to redeem his career.

However, one thing is for sure: even if Warner’s future IPL performances become a brief interlude in the magnanimous persona that he has been able to build in India in the last decade and a half, he will forever be the trailblazer in a similar vein as Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers. 

No one-run innings can ever take that away from him. 

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