I would pay to watch AB de Villiers and Mitchell Starc: David Warner

David Warner

After playing a sparkling innings of 81 from 52 balls to hand Sunrisers Hyderabad a deserved victory over Kings XI Punjab in Hyderabad on Monday, skipper David Warner credited his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan as he has been getting the team off to good starts and allowing the Australian to play with the freedom that he cherishes. Warner’s half-century helped Hyderabad post an imposing total of 185 for 5 from their 20 overs, which proved to be just enough as the visitors fell short by 5 runs.

"I think I can play with the freedom that I do because me and Shikhar Dhawan have been getting off to a good start," he said. "Even though we lose quick wickets, we still back our ability. That is our job; to score runs and if it comes off, it comes off. If not, you can't rely on that specific group of the top order. We all have to keep working together and at the moment the middle order is coming off really well. They are playing fearless cricket and that is what we have asked for from them.”

While their victory has given them a great chance of qualifying for the playoffs, they will have to continue playing at their very best as they come up against Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were imperious in their previous game against Mumbai Indians courtesy of an outstanding hundred by AB de Villiers, on Friday.

“I am not in the same category as AB de Villiers”

Although Warner himself is among the most explosive batsmen in the game today, the 28-year-old conceded that de Villiers is in another league altogether.

"I am not in the same category as AB de Villiers. He is a guy that comes out and gets himself in and then all of a sudden he just switches from slow motion to the extreme rocket or something like that. Whatever he is eating, we want some of that. That's the way he plays; it is fearless cricket. The thing is, he is able to do that because his top two are scoring the runs. It allows your middle order to play in when your top three are scoring runs.”

Warner also said that he would love to have someone of Mitchell Starc’s ilk in his bowling ranks at Sunrisers Hyderabad, adding that him and de Villiers are among the three players he would have no problem paying money to watch.

"Bangalore have someone like Mitchell Starc: Two overs up front - minimal runs; two overs at the end - minimal runs. So, basically, you have four overs there where he is only going for a less than 20 at an economy rate of four to five. It backs up their bowling and again they can play fearless cricket. We have to be on top of our game to beat them next game.

"I would pay to watch Mitchell Starc bowl, AB de Villiers bat, and I would say David Miller if he is batting while chasing. They are three guys I would definitely pay to watch."