Aakash Chopra Does Not Expect David Warner to Captain an IPL Team This Season

Former India batsman, and now commentator, Aakash Chopra believes David Warner will not be chosen to captain a team at this year’s IPL. The Australian opening batsman will be available at the IPL auction where there is likely to be a lot of interest in the destructive T20 player.

Warner spent eight years with the Sunrisers Hyderabad before leaving the franchise last year. He captained the team for the majority of his spell, so he has a lot of experience of leading a team in the competition.

The Australian led Hyderabad to the IPL title in 2016. His side were also awarded the Fair Play Award that season by the umpires in the tournament. Despite his previous success, Chopra does not think Warner will be given another captaincy role, and instead chosen for what he can do with the bat as an opener.

Chopra did not go into the reasons behind why he thinks Warner will be snubbed as a captain. At the age of 35, the opening batsman is now in the latter stages of his career. He has also shown Australia that, with less responsibility on his shoulders, he can excel with the bat at the crease. Warner’s career has also not been without controversy. In 2018, he was charged with bringing the game into a dispute over Australia’s ball-tampering scandal. Not only was he banned from Cricket Australia for a year, but he also had to relinquish his vice-captaincy role.

Three Big Teams Need a New Captain

Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore all go into the IPL auction searching for a new captain. All three franchises have been linked with Warner ahead of the 2022 campaign.

RCB are looking for a captain as Virat Kohli stepped down from the role at the end of last season. Chopra sees the franchise as a good spot for Warner, as it would create a left-and-right-handed partnership with the two experienced international players.

This year’s IPL is expected to be another open competition. The bookmakers make Chennai Super Kings the favourites to defend their crown. Mumbai Indians are second best in the betting, while newcomers Lucknow Super Giants are also prominent. Warner’s destination could have a big impact on the odds.

Fans of the IPL are likely to take on board Chopra’s prediction about how Kohli and Warner could be a huge success together in the same team. RCB are 13/2 to win the 2022 IPL with Betway, one of the best cricket betting sites in India. Those odds could prove popular if the franchise outbid its rivals in the auction ahead of the new campaign. Naturally, only time will tell what happens.

The former Sunrisers player is likely to demand a high fee in the 2022 IPL Auction. His record in the IPL is very impressive. He has scored 5,449 runs at an average of 41.6 during his 150 games so far. During that time, he has got his team off to a flying start in their innings, taking advantage of the power play.

Warner Was a Key Player in Australia T20 World Cup Success

Warner played a big role in Australia’s maiden success at the 2021 T20 World Cup last November. After scoring 289 runs at an average of 48.16, the Australian was named the Player of the Tournament. The opener scored an impressive unbeaten 89 from just 56 balls in his side’s victory over the West Indies in the Group Stage. He was also his side’s top scorer in their success against Pakistan in the semi-final. Most of the IPL franchises will have seen what Warner did in the T20 World Cup and have him at the top end of their shortlist for the auction in 2022.

Even if Warner’s new franchise agrees with Chopra, by excluding him from a captaincy role, they know they are still getting one of the best T20 opening batsmen in the game’s history.