Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said that David Warner will be one of the most-wanted players at the IPL 2022 auction after his heroics in the T20 World Cup 2021. 

Nothing went David Warner’s way in the IPL 2021 as first, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) sacked him as their skipper and then later dropped him from the playing XI during the tournament due to his poor form. 

The left-handed batter scored just 195 runs in the IPL 2021 and was not even allowed to travel with the team to the stadium in the second half of the tournament in UAE and was seen cheering from the stands.

Read Also: SRH dropping David Warner during IPL 2021 was not a 'cricket' decision - Brad Haddin 

However, after a forgettable IPL 2021, David Warner replied to all the critics in style as he displayed a sensational performance with the bat in ICC T20 World Cup 2021 and was one of the main architects behind Australia’s triumph in the tournament. 

The southpaw ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer for Australia with 289 runs to his name in 7 matches and was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament. 

His tally of 289 runs, included two crucial innings in the semi-final against Pakistan and the final against New Zealand which helped his team clinch their maiden T20 World Cup. 

Speaking to India Today, batting great Sunil Gavaskar said that with the amount of experience along with leadership qualities, David Warner very well be the most wanted player in the mega-auction of IPL 2022.

“Definitely (will be one of the sought-after players). Don't forget that there are two new teams as well. Don't forget the experience he brings, he brings in leadership qualities as well. This is a format made for him. 

“He is so energetic on the field. He would definitely be right at the top of people wanted by the two new teams or any other team because it doesn't look that SunRisers are going to retain him," Sunil Gavaskar said. 

Gavaskar said that not taking Warner to the ground along with the team was a bit harsh. He stressed that other than his lack of form there must have been some other reasons which forced Sunrisers Hyderabad to ask him to stay back. 

He added that Warner’s poor form with SRH spurred him to stage a dominant comeback in the T20 World Cup 2021. 

"That was a bit hard, to be honest, making him sit in the hotel while some of the ordinary players who were not even going to be in the playing XI were at the ground... There must have been much more than a lack of form that might have forced them to ask him to stay back.

“As far as Australia is concerned, I think they are probably saying that was kind of the thing that was needed to spur him on to the performances that we have seen in this World Cup," he said. 

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Sunil Gavaskar further said that David Warner’s self-belief despite a poor campaign in IPL 2021 has got him to this situation. He remarked that the southpaw is a positive thinker and doesn’t look back at what has happened. 

"He is a positive-thinking performance. He doesn't look back at what's happened. He must have told himself that 'what has happened in the past has happened. The future is only in my hands. 

“Also, don't forget at the start of the T20 World Cup also, he didn't do well in the warm-up matches and there were questions asked about his place in the side. Again, the self-belief that has got him to this situation," he said. 

(India Today Inputs)