'For us it's about backing yourself and coming out and executing your skills' - David Warner on DC's maiden win of IPL 2023

On Thursday, April 20, the Delhi Capitals (DC) finally opened their account in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 with a four-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. David Warner has been DC's consistent performer in the ongoing IPL despite their back-to-back losses. Notably, in the match against KKR, the DC captain scored another fifty to lead the side from the front.

However, all of his previous 30-plus scores came at a strike rate of less than 120, but he finished close to 140 in the game against KKR. Warner was able to strike at a faster rate because he made use of the powerplay, and the Capitals did not lose wickets at the start of their innings, as they had in previous games. Notably, the Australian struck 57 off 41 balls, including 11 boundaries. 

While being asked about the criticism he has received for his low strike rate, Warner stated that there will be plenty of critics who will claim that he hasn't been batting the way he usually does. He also stated that if he had gotten out, they would have criticized him for doing so, but that's just how the game is.

"We didn't lose three wickets in a row. There are going to be a lot of critics out there to suggest that I haven't been batting the way I normally bat. But when you lose three wickets in a row in two overs, and I faced three balls, what can you do? You can't really do anything. You have to have some sense of responsibility. Just like little Bangalore. You know (if) I get out, people would have criticised me getting out but that's just the game, that's how it is," Warner said in the post-match press conference as quoted by Cricbuzz.

I felt that I had my rhythm back again: Warner

Warner went on to say that the most vital aspect for the team is to believe in themselves and to come out and perform with their skills. The 36-year-old also stated that he believed he had regained his rhythm and that he had an enjoyable net session as well. He added that he was a little cautious in the first couple of games, losing a lot of wickets, but now he thinks that going out there and simply playing the way he usually does will be great for the team.

"For us it's about backing yourself and coming out and executing your skills. Today I felt like my match-ups were there and I'll take the powerplay on. And we didn't lose wickets in clumps in the first two overs. So that plays a big role as well. But for me I felt that I had my rhythm back again, I had a good couple of net sessions. I was probably a bit tentative losing a lot of wickets in the first couple of games but for me it's about going out there and just playing like the way I do and the way that I know, and then it's going to be better off for us and the team," he said.