Warner: Everyone is rising to the occasion

David Warner has been leading from the front with five fifties in seven games so far. He says that he is glad to be giving his best by challenging himself mentally and that is helping the team’s cause.

David Warner has scored 386 runs in IPL 2016 so far.

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner says that he is not scared of the law of averages which normally catches up with even the best of cricketers to put an end to their dream run with the bat.

Speaking on the eve of the match against Gujarat Lions in the IPL here on Thursday, a smiling Warner, who has been leading from the front with five fifties in seven games so far, says that he is lucky to be in good form, glad that he is giving his best by challenging himself mentally and that is helping the team’s cause.

“I don’t think the others are depending on my batting. I am definitely pleased with the way Kane (Williamson) batted the other night against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Even Shikhar played an important knock,” Warner commented.

“Essentially, we are trying to drill the importance of big partnerships after losing a wicket. This is the key to success in this format,” the SRH captain observed.

“It is important to be smart cricketers and not repeat mistakes. I must say in my team, almost everyone is rising to the occasion as we enter the decisive phase of the League. We are not dependent on what others are doing. We are keen on winning our games by playing to our strength,” Warner said.

“I am not an aggressive captain. But, if I were to say a few words like I did in the first few games, I don’t mind putting the views forward. But, luckily, most of the players are doing the right things,” Warner pointed out.

Commenting on the game against Gujarat Lions on Friday, Warner said: “They would look at it like any other game. In this format, one over can change the game completely.

"Yuvraj has started training and is confident of playing a game. We will take a call tomorrow after another session,” Warner said of the star cricketer, who has missed out on the games till now because of a groin injury sustained during the T-20 World Cup.

“It is not just about one bowler or the other. Each one is complementing the other pretty well. Yes, Rahman with his excellent bowling is certainly taking the pressure off the other bowlers in the death overs,” the Australian star opener said to a query on the Bangladesh fast bowler, Mustafizur Rahman.