David Warner cops a savage blow to his career after using one emoji to reignite his controversial offer to come out of retirement

Retired star David Warner’s horror week continued after he was sent back to the Indian Premier League auction and not retained by the Delhi Capitals days after his offer to retire from the Test team at any level was swatted away.

He wasn’t the only Australian left adrift, though, with Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc, who returned to the IPL in 2024 on a mega deal worth more than $4 million and keen to return in 2025, also heading to the went to auction. after a massive clean-up by franchises.

The fourteen Australians released back into the pool had contracts worth a total of almost $14 million. That list includes Cameron Green, who also had a $3.1 million deal with Royal Challengers Bengaluru but is sidelined by a back injury that will keep him out for up to six months.

Only Pat Cummins and Travis Head, who play for Sunrisers Hyderabad, were retained for the following season, with Cummins set to captain the team again. By 2025, they will earn $3.66 million and $1.22 million, respectively.

Warner offered to come out of retirement to help the Australian squad ahead of the upcoming Test series against India on October 22, a move that was widely criticised.

The batter’s wife, Candice, later insisted his apparent backflip ‘didn’t happen’ and it was claimed her husband was just joking.

The team’s problems at the top of the batting order came into stark relief this week in Australia A’s match against India A, when Test batting prospects Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Nathan McSweeney all failed in their first innings.

When Fox Cricket posted an image on Instagram detailing how the batters had blown their chance, Warner responded with a single raised hand emoji to indicate he is ready to take it a step further.

Mitchell Starc (pictured) of Kolkata Knight Riders was also not retained until 2025

Warner responded to an Instagram post (above) detailing the failure of the batsmen lining up to secure a spot in the Test team by raising his hand with a cheeky emoji (pictured)

The 38-year-old’s offer to return to the crease saw him face waves of criticism

The 38-year-old had a terrible IPL season in 2024, battling a hand injury and making just 168 runs in eight innings before being replaced by young dynamo Jake Fraser-McGurk, who lit up the tournament and finished as Delhi’s third top scorer. with 330 runs, off just 141 balls.

But he too is heading to the auction after the Delhi Capitals also sacked coach Ricky Ponting after a disappointing tournament when they failed to reach the final.

Despite helping Kolkata Knight Riders secure the title in his first IPL in more than a decade, Starc, who after taking seven wickets in his Sheffield Shield outing at the MCG last week, said he had “heard nothing ” of the franchise, but wanted to return, was not retained.

Australian spin star Adam Zampa, who has regularly competed for IPL playing time, was also dismissed.

AUSTRALIANS RELEASED BY THEIR IPL FRANCHISES

Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders, $4.42 million)

Cameron Green (Royal Challengers Bengaluru, $3.15 million)

Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru, $2 million)

Spencer Johnson (Gujarat Titans, $1.78 million)

Marcus Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants, $1.7 million)

Tim David (Mumbai Indians, $1.53 million)

Mitch Marsh (Delhi Capitals, $1.2 million)

David Warner (Delhi Capitals, $1.16 million)

Jhye Richardson (Delhi Capitals, $892,000)

Matthew Wade (Gujarat Titans, $446,000)

Adam Zampa (Rajasthan Royals, $270,000)

Ashton Turner (Lucknow Super Giants, $178,000)

Jason Behrendorff (Mumbai Indians, $135,000)

Nathan Ellis (Punjab Kings, $135,000)