Hungry Warner still has 'a lot to prove'

David Warner has been hailed for his mental resilience after returning to the IPL "with a lot to prove" following the expiry of his 12-month ban for orchestrating Australia's ball-tampering scandal.

Warner has made a blockbuster start to the IPL season, hitting 85, 69 and an unbeaten 100 in his three matches with the Sunrisers Hyderabad so far.

Hyderabad coach Tom Moody, the Western Australian allrounder who was part of Australia's World Cup winning sides in 1987 and 1999, said Warner was as hungry for success as ever.

"He is in a very good place. He has come back full of enthusiasm, full of determination and with a lot to prove," Moody said ahead of Hyderabad's next match, against the Ricky Ponting-coached Delhi Capitals on Thursday night.

"David Warner – and I think all top players are the same – they have got an unquenchable thirst for the game and to have success in the game. That thirst certainly hasn't been withdrawn by any means.

"He has always had a very positive mindset. He is a very determined and resilient individual.

"I think to endure what he and (Steve) Smith and (Cameron Bancroft) had to over 12 months, there has to be a lot of mental toughness.

"There has to be a lot of resilience. You could very easily find yourself down for long periods of time."

Moody also hailed Warner's preparation during his ban to enable him to make a seamless reintroduction to the highest level of cricket he's played since being suspended.

"We've seen over his career what makes him unique as a player. Yes, he's had to sit out of top-flight cricket, international cricket, for 12 months. But David Warner has been preparing for six months, too, for his comeback," Moody said.

"He's played a couple of franchise tournaments over that 12-month period. He has obviously played club cricket in Sydney as well. Okay, it's not the same standard, but he's been preparing more mentally and technically.

"His game technically is relatively sound, so it's the case of getting him sorted mentally and he welcomed the start of this tournament and for him to get back on the horse, so to speak."