5 best athletes for the week 23 May - 30 May

David Warner

Warner played captain’s knocks and led his

The Sunrisers Hyderabad, led ably by the Australian batsman, took their maiden title at the Indian Premier League with a victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who had been the favourites to win well into the tournament.

His team took three consecutive wins to build significant momentum going into a finals face-off against the home side. Warner won the toss, choosing for his side to set their rivals a target.

After firing in the team’s qualifier match against the Gujarat Lions, Warner once again stepped up to the crease to fire against the Challengers’ bowling attack. He scalped 19 runs off an over from compatriot and former Australia teammate Shane Watson as he demolished the attack of some of their other bowlers as well.

In the end, despite initially strong knocks by Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, it was Ben Cutting’s innings that followed Warner’s that saw the Hyderabad side through. But it was Warner who played two captain’s knocks – in the second qualifier and the final – to take one of the standout performances of the week.