Star Australia batsman David Warner may be woefully out of form and hasn't played any international match in the shortest format for over a year but his opener's slot in the upcoming T20 World Cup is not under any doubt, limited-over captain Aaron Finch said on Wednesday. Finch backed Warner to be his opening partner at the T20 World Cup to be played in Oman and UAE from October 19, despite Warner being dropped by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL this year.

"Yep, absolutely He's one of the best players to ever play the game for Australia," Finch said on the eve of Australia's departure to the UAE for the showpiece. "I've got no doubt that his preparation, while he would love to be playing for Hyderabad no doubt, I know that he's still training away. He'll be good to go," he said, according to ESPNCricinfo. Warner hasn't played a T20I for Australia since September 2020, missing the last 14 matches across four series due to a combination of injury, rest, and schedule clashes.