Veteran opener David Warner’s last bilateral assignment for Australia came to a premature end as a groin injury ruled him out of the third and final T20I against New Zealand. The left-hander, who has already retired from Tests and ODIs, will bring down the curtain on his illustrious T20I career after this year’s T20 World Cup in June.

The ongoing series is his last bilateral series as an Australian player. It means the first T20I in Wellington was his last appearance for Australia in a bilateral series.

While the star opener will be sidelined for a while due to the injury, he is likely to recover in time for the start of the Indian Premier League. David Warner is all set to ply his trade for Delhi Capitals in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League.

In the first T20I against the Black Caps, he scored 32 runs as Australia recorded a thrilling last-ball victory over the Trans-Tasman rivals. He was not part of the XI for the second match in Auckland, although the Australian team management stated that he was rested. In his absence, Travis Head and Steve Smith opened the innings for Australia.

According to a report from cricket.com.au, David Warner was on the field for the second match but did not appear on the field for the pre-match discussion. He also did not assume twelfth man duties during the game.

David Warner responds to the crowd:

The cricket fraternity was eagerly awaiting David Warner’s final match in New Zealand after his pre-season comments about New Zealand fans. The Australia opener had opened up about the abuse he and his teammates suffered from the New Zealand crowd during the 2016 tour. Following the 2016 incident, he called the fans’ behavior “dismissive and vulgar”.

New Zealand booed Warner after he was dismissed in the first T20I. The Australian star responded to the boos in style by blowing a kiss in the direction of fans. Meanwhile, Australia has already clinched the three-match series by winning the first two and will look to clear the situation.