When David Warner was smashing bowlers for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2009, the entire cricketing world was convinced about the left-hander becoming a superstar cricketer in white-ball cricket. Warner was ruthless at the top of the order and showcased his potential in the 7 games that he played during his maiden stint in the IPL. However, a certain Virender Sehwag saw a Test batter in Warner, someone similar to him.

Having redefined the way openers went about their business in red-ball cricket, Virender Sehwag was confident that David Warner had the game to become a Test opener for Australia. Sehwag did not miss an opportunity to talk to Warner during the IPL 2009 season and plant that thought into his head. Coming from one of the finest modern-day openers, who instilled fear in the minds of opposition bowlers, Warner was able to understand what Sehwag was telling him despite having not harboured thoughts of red-ball cricket in the past, considering the competition for sports in the Australian cricket team.

Warner played two years of first-class cricket before he made his Test debut in 2011. There was no looking back from then on. Warner hit his maiden hundred in just his second Test. And in his 5th Test, Warner was up against a touring Indian side that had Virender Sehwag. Warner made it count in front of the man who pushed him to take up Test cricket, hitting a match-winning 180 for Australia at the WACA in Perth.

11 years later, Warner is all set to retire from Test cricket as one of the finest modern-day openers. Warner did for Australia what Sehwag achieved for India at the top of the order. Much like Sehwag, Warner also played over 100 Tests (112 to be precise) and scored over 8000 runs. Warner went past his Sehwag’s tally of 8207 runs last year and has 4 more hundreds than the former India opener. Warner will finish his career among the top 5 leading run-getters as openers in Test cricket.

‘POWERPLAY THROUGHOUT THE DAY’

Speaking to Cricbuzz ahead of David Warner’s farewell Test, Virender Sehwag is a proud man. He is happy that Warner was able to break most of his records, except for the strike rate.

“When David Warner came to play for Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2009, he’d just made his T20I and ODI debuts. But the way he used to bat and hit the ball, I could see he had all the talent and the control you need in a Test batter. But what happens for a young player like him is that you don’t have the confidence that you have the skills to play Test cricket. When I saw him, I was convinced that he would be better in Tests than he even is in T20 cricket,” Sehwag said.

“I shared this view with him, and he started laughing. He said, ‘I am so far away from Test cricket and in Australia it’s so difficult to break into the Test team to start with.’ I told him, ‘You will enjoy it. It’s made for you. In Test cricket, you have a power play throughout the day. In T20 cricket the powerplay only lasts for 20 overs.’ He started laughing and said, ‘Then I’ll certainly enjoy it’.

“Later, he went on to play Tests for Australia and messaged me saying he was so happy that I’d said that to him,” he added.

Sehwag has the best strike rate for an opening batter in Tests with a minimum of 2000 runs (83.10). Warner is third in the list with a strike rate of 70.50.

HE SHOULDN’T RETIRE FROM TESTS: SEHWAG

The former India opener also downplayed concerns over David Warner’s dip in form in Test cricket, saying that he did not want the Australian opener to retire from Test cricket.

“I personally don’t think he should retire from Tests based on the way he’s batting. But as you age and get to 35-36, you start thinking about off-field matters, like your family and your kids. I can’t see any issue with his reflexes or fitness owing to age. I think he’s mentally decided that he doesn’t want to play Tests anymore.I am sure he will continue playing T20 cricket for a long time to come,” Sehwag said.

Questions were asked about David Warner’s place in the Test side ahead of the ongoing 3-match series against Pakistan. However, Warner responded to his critics in style with a daddy hundred in the first Test against Pakistan in Perth.

Warner is all set tor a grand farewell as he will bow out of Test cricket at his home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground. Warner also retired from ODI cricket ahead of his farewell Test.