IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals’ Pravin Amre discusses Ishant Sharma, David Warner’s return timeline

Delhi Capitals might have found their rhythm back with successive wins this season in IPL, theirassistant coach, Pravin Amre, has revealed the return date for two superstars – Ishant Sharma and David Warner. While lanky seamer Ishant struggles with his ageing back, Warner has been absent from the scene since April 12 with a thumb injury.

Speaking to the media after hisside’s10-run win against Mumbai Indians at home, the other day, Amre said Ishant will return to full fitness in one week, and Warner could take longer to get a clearance certificate, thus expected to be back in time during the fag end of the tournament.

"Warner will take 1-2 weeks to recover. His scans revealed an injury,"Amre said.

"Ishant has been having back spasms. He will also take a week to recover. By the time we returntoDelhihe will be fit,”he continued.

However, inWarner’sabsence, his compatriot Jake Fraser-McGurk opened the batting and made this tournament his own with his exploits. The young right-hander has scored three fifties in five contested matches thus far, striking at 237.50. He was the architect forDelhi’s win over Mumbai at home, smashing 84 off 27 balls at the top.

Speaking highly of him, Amre said with Jake playing for the Dubai Capitals (ILT20) and impressing everyone there,Delhi’sscouting team was keen on having him on the board for the Indian Premier League.

"He played three games for Dubai Capitals [in the ILT20], and our scouting team was very keen to have him [for the IPL],"Amre said.

"Once we got an opportunity to have a replacement, even though we had a choice between a couple of players, we picked him.He played just three innings [in the ILT20] before leaving to play for Australia, but even in that, he played a couple of match-winning innings. Those knocks were something special. Given he is a young, exciting cricketer, we decided to back him,”he continued.

Special talent!

Roped in as an injury replacement, McGurk had to wait for the first five games to make his IPL debut andsincemade headlines with his match-winning knocks.

"Yes, he had to wait for four-five games before getting a chance,"Amre said."But even when wewere watchinghim in the nets, he had something different, that X-factor. Even today (on Saturday),he,just opened up the game, and, because of his innings, we were 92 for no loss after six overs."

"He is a natural. If you see his set-up, he believes in a stable base. And he has excellent hand speed. And when you are batting in the Powerplay, you have only one fielder on the leg side. So,that'sa good area to hit; even a mis-hit can get you a boundary,”Amre said of McGurk.

Meanwhile, as things stand, Delhi jumped into the top five on the points table with five wins and as many losses in 10 contested matches thus far, looking strong to press their case for a playoff finish this season.

Delhi will next face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday (April 29) in an away game before hosting Rajasthan Royals on May 7.