David Warner to miss final T20I against New Zealand, likely to be fit for IPL 2024

Australia veteran David Warner is ruled out of the final T20I against New Zealand with an adductor injury, marking an end to his bilateral international career.

However, the attacking batter could attain full fitness in time for the Indian Premier League season 17, beginning March 22, CA said in a statement.

“Warner will require a brief recovery period, which is not expected to affect his availability for the upcoming Indian Premier League leading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” a CA statement said.

Warner missed the second game at Eden Park in Auckland on February 23, with Steve Smith opening alongside Travis Head. That call was always on the card, given Cricket Australia’s policy of rotating players throughout the series. Warner’s recovery time is anticipated to be around seven to ten days.

Having announced his retirement from Tests and ODIs earlier this year, Warner informed everyone about his decision to step aside from the T20Is following the World Cup later in June in the Caribbean and the USA. With Warner remaining unavailable for selection, his final outing in men’s bilateral cricket was the first game in Wellington, wherein he scored 32 off 20 balls before being booed off the ground upon his dismissal.

Warner’s absence from the playing XI would give an extended run to Steve Smith at the top, although his chances of sealing the spot in the T20 WC squad look gloomy, with Warner, Travis Head and Captain Mitchell Marsh to lock the first three positions.