Discarded from IPL, David Warner set to play cricket in Thailand

In a major boost for the global cricketing landscape, the Pro10 League, which will be led by Ravi Shastri and sports entrepreneur Neeraj Sareen, officially announced its international debut. This marks the arrival of professional T10 cricket in Southeast Asia and Europe. According to the league’s release, the first season will see five franchise teams battle it out from January 30 to February 4 at Thailand’s Terd Thai Cricket Ground.

The tournament will also be promoted by West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards, who has been named Thailand's ambassador, and will feature high-profile players such as David Warner, Chris Lynn, and George Munsey.

David Warner to Feature in Pro10 Thailand League

One of the biggest names in T20 cricket, David Warner, is and he is all set to make his debut in Thailand, where he will feature in a new T10 league. The league aims to give Thai cricketers valuable exposure by allowing them to share the field with top international talent, and David Warner Pro10 league participation provides the tournament with much-needed exposure.

Sir Viv Richards, brand Ambassador of Pro10, expressed his delight about joining an initiative that helps the sport expand into regions such as Thailand.

David Warner IPL Journey: From 3 Orange Caps to Being Unsold in Auction

David Warner’s IPL story is one of the most remarkable arcs the league has ever seen, from being one of the best batsmen in IPL to going unsold at the 2025 auction despite a base price of just INR 2 crore. Over the years, Warner built a legacy which was unmatched by any overseas cricketer, finishing with 6,565 IPL runs, the most by a foreign player, scored at an average of 40.52 and a strike rate of 139.77 across 184 matches.

His consistency was extraordinary; he remains the only player in history to win the Orange Cap three times, in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Warner’s peak came during his stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he not only scored a bulk of runs but also led them to their maiden IPL title in 2016. That season alone, he smashed 848 runs at a strike rate of 151.42, nearly carrying SRH on his shoulders throughout their title-winning campaign. He also became the fastest player to reach both 5,000 and 6,000 IPL runs.

But as the league evolved and younger talents emerged, Warner’s form and strike rate dipped in recent seasons, which resulted in the unexpected outcome of the 2025 auction, where franchises chose to move on from one of the players with most runs in IPL, and his story could be considered as one of the league's most dramatic downfalls for a player who deserved better.