3 former Delhi Capitals players who are part of Sydney Thunder in BBL 2024-25 ft. David Warner

The ongoing season of the Big Bash League is in full force, with the Sydney Thunder emerging on top of the table with the most points (11). The Thunder have arrived out of the shadow of their bigger neighbour Sydney Sixers, who are currently perched upon the second position with the same points.

One of the biggest stories of the current BBL season has been the downfall of the Perth Scorchers, who were otherwise the heavyweights of this tournament, having won it on a whopping five occasions. The Thunder, however, have not won the BBL since 2015-16, and look primed to repeat that feat this time around.

Sportskeeda noted an interesting fact: quite a few Delhi Capitals players have been in the Sydney Thunder dressing room this season. Having experienced the heat and pressure of the Indian Premier League, these players should naturally perform and lead their team to glory in the BBL.

In this listicle, we take a look at three former DC players who are now plying their trade for the Thunder:

#3 Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford of the Thunder poses with the KFC player of the match award after the BBL match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder at Optus Stadium, on January 03, 2025, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Sherfane Rutherford is one of the most exciting white-ball cricketers in the world and has played for DC in the past and Sydney Thunder in the ongoing BBL season. The 26-year-old left-handed batter, who can also bowl handy pace in the middle overs, played in 2017 for DC and scored 73 runs in seven innings.

Rutherford's average of 14 and strike rate of 135 were not impressive enough for DC, so he was packed off. In 2022, the West Indian returned to the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the ongoing BBL season, Rutherford played six matches before heading to the International League T20.

In the six innings he batted for the Thunder this season, Rutherford amassed 74 runs at an average of 14.80. His strike rate was a dismal 110, with a highest score of 39 not out coming against heavyweights Perth Scorchers on January 3. He is now playing for the Desert Vipers in the ILT20.

#2 Sam Billings

Sam Billings of the Thunder poses for a photo with the Player of the Match award following the BBL match between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, on December 28, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

England wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings, one of the most talented players in the world, is another player who formerly turned out for Delhi Capitals, but is now a part of Sydney Thunder. Billings played two seasons for DC, in 2016 and 2017 but could not quite make an impact, as a result of which he was released.

In 2016, Billings scored only 88 runs in four innings, whereas the next year, he accumulated 138 runs in six innings. His averages for the corresponding years were 22 and 23, respectively. He has not fared much better in the ongoing BBL season, having scored 185 runs in eight innings at an average of 26.42.

#1 David Warner

The biggest name on this list is David Warner. The former Australia opener, who is one of the most explosive batters in the world, previously played for Delhi Capitals from 2022 to 2024. Warner was also a part of the franchise when it was called Delhi Daredevils from 2009 to 2013.

While Warner is best known in the IPL for leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title in 2016, he is also fondly remembered at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. He is in excellent form in the ongoing season of the BBL, having already accumulated 324 runs in eight innings at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 141 for the Thunder.

In the IPL, Warner has scored 6,565 runs in 184 innings at an average of 40. His last season for DC was a tad poor, with him having picked up just 168 runs in eight innings at a lowly average of 21. As a result, he went unsold in the 2025 IPL auction, held in November 2024.