IPL 2019: Warner and Bairstow show why the love for sports trumps rivalry
A few days ago we saw an astounding opening pair hitting the ball out of the park. Yes, it's none other than the formidable duo of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow of Sunrisers Hyderabad. They started the game very well and finished the power-play with 59 without loss. Then they changed gears and took the game to another level by smashing all the RCB bowlers and ended up with a massive total of 231 on the board, with both the openers getting centuries. SRH soon bowled out the talent-heavy RCB batting line up for just 113.
Warner, who just completed his ban, has been playing amazingly and so is his new opening partner, Bairstow. Australia and England have been arch rivals since the inception of cricket. Both the big nations respect each other but have more rivalry in their heart and soul. Every series they play with each other is of significant importance for them, but the Ashes is still the cream of the crop.
They play each series for pride and dignity. The 2019 Ashes series is set to start on August 1 and their performances in the IPL this season has won them fans from all over the world.
Warner and Bairstow have shown us that even though they are rivals while playing for their countries, they can get along and bat quite elegantly. The understanding between both the batsmen was great and so was their coordination while running between the wickets.
Even though they have never played together anywhere before, in such a small time they have got together so well and this seems to be the best opening pair of this year's IPL. The SRH opening duo has a much better average and strike-rate than any other opening pair of this season, beating the likes of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock and even last year's formidable opening pair of Shane Watson and Ambati Rayadu.
Just after two weeks of this IPL, we have seen many splendid performances and Warner and Bairstow have outclassed all of them with their love for sports, which has proven to be bigger than their rivalry whilst representing their respective countries. Every sport is like this - there will be a rivalry, but in the end, the love for sports is always more. This is what we can learn from this duo.
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