David_Warner

Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL

Australian star cricketer David Warner, who sustained a groin injury three months back, could be out of cricketing action for as long as nine months. With T20 World Cup scheduled later this year, the SRH captain might have to miss IPL 2021 to completely recover from his injury.

Warner sustained a groin injury in November, 2020

The 34-year-old sustained a groin injury during the second ODI between India and Australia on 29 November, 2020. After playing a 77-ball 83 run knock in the first innings, Warner was fielding at mid-off as Australia came out to defend the target of 390.

As Shikhar Dhawan pushed a delivery towards the left of Warner, the Australian cricketer made a valiant effort to stop the ball, hurting himself in the process. He landed awkwardly and looked in a lot of pain as he was taken off the field.

He was taken for scans and it was later revealed that he had indeed sustained a groin injury. The Australian opener was subsequently ruled out of the last ODI, the T20I series and the first two Tests against India.

The 34-year-old provides an update on his injury

Although the Australian opener did return for the last two Tests against India, he did not look 100% fit. He registered scores of 5, 13, 1 and 48 in the four innings he played as he was certainly struggling with the injury.

Recently, Warner provided an update on his injury and said, “Next week I’ll be picking up throwing. That was very difficult the last couple of weeks, even trying to throw. Now it’s all about lateral movement — running between the wickets. It’s going to aggravate me for the next six to nine months. But I’m sure the medicos will help me out there.”

However, the 34-year-old is confident that he will be able to make a comeback earlier than expected. He added that he had a conversation with a lot of people who have suffered from this kind of injury in past and they have assured that it would just be a niggle.

Reflecting on his recovery, Warner said, “You have just got to teach your brain to not worry about the pain and that it’s not going to happen again. It’s just getting back that confidence to sidestep and run as hard as I can and dive around again. Once I get that, I will be right to go. It’s just not 100% there yet.”

News surround that New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson might lead the side in Warner's absence. Although, Sunrisers Hyderabad would certainly be hoping that their charismatic captain, who led them to IPL title in 2016, would be fit for the 2021 season. Warner has played 142 matches in IPL, scoring 5254 runs at a scintillating average of 42.71.