IPL 2021: Graeme Swann opines on Hyderabad sacking David Warner
Just before the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was postponed, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made a massive set-up change as they replaced their captain David Warner with Kane Williamson. Further, in the game against Rajasthan Royals, the franchise also excluded the opening batsman from their playing XI.
The axing of the IPL’s highest overseas run-getter didn’t go well with many fans and cricket analysts as they came up with their own assumptions regarding the reason behind the massive change by the Orange Army. Former England captain Graeme Swann also opined on the hot topic saying that SRH gave a punishment to Warner for his comments regarding the team management.
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— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 1, 2021
The Indian batsman Manish Pandey didn’t start his campaign in IPL 2021 on a good note as he failed to contribute positively to the side. The same resulted in the franchise excluding Pandey from their playing XI against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC).
When Warner was asked about the reason for not including Manish Pandey in the playing XI, the Australian star reckoned, “It was a harsh call in my opinion. But at the end of the day, it is a decision of the selectors to do that.”
Graeme Swann opines on David Warner’s exclusion from SRH
Graeme Swann believes that Warner’s comments on the team management didn’t go well with the franchise and they gave a punishment to him for the same. “It seems like a message has been given to David Warner after that press conference where he passed the buck that this is not my decision but the selectors’.
“Someone’s not happy about it, and unhappy enough to get rid of him as the skipper and drop him from the team. It looks like punishment to me more than anything,” Swann said while talking on Star Sports pre-match show.
The captaincy change and the exclusion of Warner from the playing XI didn’t reap good results for the Orange Army. Before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the T20 Championship, SRH were up against Rajasthan Royals (RR). In the match against Royals, Hyderabad succumbed to a massive defeat by 55 runs and was languishing at the last position in the points table.