Shane Warne has revealed that he threatened to walk out of the Rajasthan Royals team over interference in team selection during the inaugural Indian Premier League season.
In an interview on CNN-IBN, the former Australia leg-spinner and current Rajasthan captain, said he has had to make tough decisions during his IPL career and team selection was one of them.
Warne, who was reportedly also involved in an argument with Rajasthan Cricket Association Secretary Sanjay Dixit before a complaint was lodged against him, said that ‘there were certain people’ who were trying to influence team selection.
“There was one particular decision in which I really set the tone for the rest of the series,” said Warne, who led Rajasthan to the IPL title in the first season. “We were getting a little bit of pressure from certain people about playing certain players. I said to the owners, ‘Look, that’s fine if you want X player in the squad but book me on QF 9 [a Qantas flight] because I’m going home.”
Delhi conquered by Chennai
Chennai Super Kings scooped up to the top of the IPL table after defeating Delhi Daredevils by 18 runs. Quickfire half-centuries by Subramaniam Badrinath and MS Dhoni led the defending champions to 176 before Delhi were restricted to 158.
Dhoni hit a 31-ball 63 and put on 96 with Badrinath to boost Chennai to a competitive total. In response, Delhi would have always found the target tough due to the absence of their captain Virender Sehwag and impressive bowling by Ravichandran Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo made the job even more difficult.
Chennai registered their eighth win in 12 games to move ahead of Mumbai Indians – who have played one game less.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2011.
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