Famed Australian opener David Warner recently expressed his feelings over leaving the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) team, calling it “bizarre.” Speaking on the channel of Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Warner revealed the surprising development that resulted in his leaving SRH.
Warner has had highs and lows along his rollercoaster ride of an Indian Premier League (IPL) career. Warner joined SRH in 2014 after a fruitful tenure with the Delhi Capitals from 2009 to 2013, where he remained a key member of the squad till 2021. Warner was a standout player for SRH and helped the team win the 2016 IPL; however, his tenure with the team ended suddenly.
During the 2021 season, the Australian cricket player had problems, including losing a lot of games and being dismissed from his captaincy midway through. The franchise thereafter sidelined him and even blocked him on social media. As Warner adopted the position of spectator and even carried refreshments for his team during games, his dissatisfaction was evident.
Looking back on the experience, David said he was confused by the way the team management had treated him. As he saw it, fan interaction is an essential component of his relationship with the supporters. Warner is still appreciative of his supporters’ unfailing support, even after the perplexing choice to block him on social media.
“Being a sense of hurt for fans, it did hurt. Your fans are the most significant relationship you could have. The team’s and my interaction with the fans was excellent,” Warner stated on Ravi Ashwin’s YouTube channel.
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“Why I got barred is beyond me. On the SRH social media front, though, I did interact with a lot of fans. It did seem like my responsibility to interact with the supporters and ensure their continued return. That is the crucial thing. I am not sure, though, from a blocking perspective. I have spent almost five years sitting on it. It seemed odd. Ultimately, I still have followers who visit my page and engage with everyone there. It is therefore fantastic,” he said.
In 2022, the Delhi Capitals bought Warner.
David’s outstanding record of 4,014 runs in 95 games cemented his place in the IPL legends. However, his course changed when the Delhi Capitals signed him in 2022.
With his new squad, David has not yet won an IPL title, despite his outstanding efforts for DC, which include two centuries and 22 fifties.