'He laughed at me and replied, you're joking, man' - Virender Sehwag recalls predicting David Warner's Test success

David Warner is one of Australia’s finest limited-overs batters in the modern era. He played key roles in Australia winning the 2015 ODI World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup and in fact, was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the latter where he scored match-winning half-centuries in the knockout games when it mattered the most.

However, it is to be noted that Warner is also a very accomplished Test batter with 24 centuries and 34 half-centuries to his name including a triple century. Speaking on the same, his former Delhi teammate and good friend Virender Sehwag has opened up on the southpaw’s reaction when the ex-India vice-captain had predicted his red-ball success. Sehwag played with Warner in the Delhi Daredevils during IPL 2009 when the latter hadn’t even played a test for his country.

He’s a great Test player: Virender Sehwag

“When he first came to Delhi (in IPL 2009), he hadn’t even played tests for Australia. I think he was only playing first-class cricket. I told him, ‘you can be a great Test player as well, not just a great T20 player’. He laughed at me and replied, ‘you’re joking, man’,” said Sehwag while speaking to Cricbuzz.

“But then I explained to him that you only get a six-over powerplay in T20s. But in Tests, you potentially have an entire day of powerplay! The way you play the game, you will definitely get success in the longest format. And look at him now. He’s a great Test player,” he added.

David Warner has found a huge amount of success in the longest format of the game. He has so far amassed  7753 runs in 94 matches and is currently the eighth-highest run-getter for Australia in the traditional format.

The explosive opener is currently participating in the ongoing IPL season where he is representing the Delhi Capitals. He has so far had a decent season having amassed 261 runs from six matches averaging 52.20 and a strike rate of 158.18 including three half-centuries. The southpaw scored a match-winning 42 in the last game against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

He would be hoping to showcase yet another brilliant performance in the next game against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 1.