David Warner under fresh fire in IPL as Ricky Ponting detail emerges

David Warner's struggles with his run rate for the Delhi Capitals has raised big concerns within the franchise with a teammate revealing he reached out to coach Ricky Ponting for advice. Warner has overturned his poor international form having scored three half-centuries in his four IPL innings, however there has been concern over how slowly he is scoring the runs in the fastest form of the game.

In his team's loss to the Mumbai Indians, Warner scored 51 not out off 49 balls. His reaction to the innings could be summed up after a frustrated celebration when reaching the milestone.

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Warner has scored three of the four slowest half centuries this year in the IPL and his run rate throughout the four opening games sits at 114.83, which is well below his career average of 141.30 off 99 T20 innings. To make matters worse, in his first season as captain of the Capitals, Warner and the franchise are off to a horrendous start and are now in danger of an early exit from the play-off race as they sit bottom of the ladder.

And following their latest loss to five-time champions Mumbai, vice-captain Axar Patel has admitted Warner's struggles have been a slight worry. "Even in the last couple of games, when he has been trying to hit, it's not been coming off," Patel said after the loss.

"As a batsman, I don't know what he is thinking at that moment." And Patel went as far to reveal Warner has sort advice from Australian greats Ponting and Shane Watson, who are both part of the Mumbai coaching staff.

He also claimed Warner had spoken to former Indian Test captain Sourav Ganguly, Delhi's director of cricket, on his batting. "The conversation about his strike rate also came up. They looked at his videos and he's working on it," Axar said.

However, Warner isn't the only one struggling in the Capitals XI with a lack of support potentially hindering the opener's ability to unleash.

David Warner cops criticism for run rate

And Warner's struggles have been pointed out by cricket experts. Former India opener Virender Sehwag told Cricbuzz Warner needed to hear the criticism. "I feel it is time that we tell him in English now so that Warner listens to it and feels hurt," he said after the weekend's 57-run loss to the Rajasthan Royals.

During the match against the Royals, Warner made 65 in 55 balls before Delhi went down tamely in their chase of 200 in Guwahati. "David, if you are listening, please play well... If you cannot do that, do not come and play in the IPL," said Sehwag.

Harsha Bhogle also pointed out his run rate and said it was hard watching one of the IPL's greatest players struggle with form. "He has been very honest about it, but at the moment, it isn't helping DC get the momentum they need," Bhogle wrote. However, many defended Warner for being held to a different standard to other batters.

The famous franchise is yet to win the IPL and suffered an early blow when captain Rishabh Pant was involved in a car crash in December and ruled out of the season.

In their last game, needing 20 runs off the final two overs for victory, Aussie stars Cameron Green and Tim David combined to get the Indians home on the final delivery against the Capitals.

Needing two off the final ball, David scrambled back to the non-striker's end to complete the second run, with an extraordinary full-length dive getting him across the line. Green made 17 not out off eight balls, while David was unbeaten on 13 off 11 balls.

with AFP

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