Big blow to Delhi Capitals ahead of Gujarat Titans clash, Ricky Ponting confirms star player yet to go through fitness test

Delhi Capitals (DC) have suffered a major setback ahead of their clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on April 17. DC head coach Ricky Ponting on the eve of the clash said that the team management will keep their fingers crossed as they are yet to learn about David Warner's availability for the game. 
 

In the pre-match press conference, Ponting revealed that his X-ray came back all clear but he has swelling around his left hand's knuckle. In their previous clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Warner injured his finger. 
 

"David did have an X-ray after the last game. That X-ray came back all clear. But, he's got a lot of swelling around the knuckle on his left hand. We'll give him a fitness test tomorrow morning, and keeping our fingers crossed that he's okay," Ponting told the reporters. 
 

Warner is the latest addition to the list of injured players in DC’s squad. Mitchell Marsh has returned home after suffering a hamstring injury. If Warner misses out, young Jake Fraser-McGurk or Shai Hope may open the innings alongside Prithvi Shaw. The veteran opener has not been in form in the previous three games. His only half-century in the season came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last month.

ALSO READ: Ricky Pointing backs ‘big dog’ Glenn Maxwell’s break from IPL 2024, says ‘a lot of pressure…’
 

Ponting has faith in ninth-placed DC

Ponting backed his side to do well in the upcoming games and said that it could have been easily five wins from six games instead of four losses from six games.
 

"The overriding message from me to the players over the last six games is how close we've been. We could easily be sitting here with five wins and one loss. So, we understand how close we are and how close the tournament is, but you can't afford to be close be good in the IPL. You've got to turn up and be very good every day."
 

"We know we've got to get better in certain areas of our cricket. And trust me, we're working really hard every day to make sure that we're as well prepared as we can be," he added.
 

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