IPL: David Warner hints of ending his tenure with Sunrisers Hyderabad

Dubai: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s big-hitting opener David Warner, who has been dropped from the playing XI because of poor form, has said that he won’t be seen at the stadium “again”, hinting that his stint with the struggling franchise could be over. Warner was axed on Monday night from the game against Rajasthan Royals, which SRH […]

Dubai: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s big-hitting opener David Warner, who has been dropped from the playing XI because of poor form, has said that he won’t be seen at the stadium “again”, hinting that his stint with the struggling franchise could be over.

Warner was axed on Monday night from the game against Rajasthan Royals, which SRH won by seven wickets.

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That win aside, the franchise has battled a poor run with only two wins from 10 matches, which has left them at the bottom of the points table and out of contention for a playoffs berth.

Warner’s absence from the team dugout did not go unnoticed and fans wondered about his whereabouts underneath an instagram post by SRH. Responding to the queries, Warner posted, “Unfortunately won’t be again but keep supporting, please.”

Warner has been woefully out of form this season, having accumulated just 181 runs in eight matches so far at an average of 24.37. His strike rate, at present, is the lowest in all his IPL stints, making it his worst season in the league.

The 34-year-old joined SRH in 2014 and captained the side to its maiden IPL title in 2016. Dropped from the leadership role after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, he came back as skipper in 2020.

He was again removed as captain during the first leg of this season due to the team’s poor run and differences with Team Director Tom Moody and head coach Trevor Bayliss.

“We can’t make the finals, so we made a decision that we want the youngsters to experience not just the matches, but time at the ground and around the set-up,” Bayliss had said at the post match press conference on Monday when asked about Warner staying back at his hotel room.

IPL sources have revealed that he will be released at the end of the season and go back to the auction pool.

Warner dropped for youngsters: Bayliss

Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Trevor Bayliss said a struggling David Warner was dropped from the playing squad against Rajasthan Royals to give the youngsters in the side a chance as they are already out of contention for a play-off berth in the Indian Premier League.

SRH beat RR by seven wickets, riding on half centuries from opener Jason Roy and skipper Kane Williamson on Monday night, after the team management decided to leave out star Australian Warner who has been struggling for form.

“We can’t make the finals, so we made a decision that we want the youngsters to experience not just the matches, but time at the ground and around the set-up,” Bayliss said at the post match press conference.

“We have a number of young players who haven’t even been to the ground, even as reserves, so we wanted to give them opportunity to come and experience a game. And that might continue for a few more games, we’ve got to sit down in a day or two and pick a team and a squad of 18.” Bayliss said Warner was supporting his team-mates from the hotel.

“Dave obviously was watching the game at the hotel and giving his support to the boys. Just like everyone else. We’re all in this together,” quipped the head coach.
Bayliss was specifically asked if this could be the beginning of the end of Warner at SRH, to which he said, “Look, that certainly hasn’t been discussed.”

“This is the last year before the major final (mega auction), those decisions will be made later. He (Warner) has been a great contributor to Sunrisers for a number of years and he’s very well-respected. And with the amount of runs he has scored, I’m sure he has got a lot more runs in him in the IPL,” Bayliss signed off.

SRH, who are already out of reckoning for a play-off berth, next play against Chennai Super Kings on September 30 in Sharjah.

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