'I am not sure why I was blocked' - Warner shed light on the unexpected turn of events that led to his exit from SRH

David Warner, the famed Australian opener, recently shared his sentiments regarding his departure from the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise, labelling it as "bizarre." Speaking on Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's channel, Warner shed light on the unexpected turn of events that led to his exit from SRH.

Warner's journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by highs and lows. After a successful stint with the Delhi Capitals from 2009 to 2013, Warner joined SRH in 2014 and became an integral part of the team until 2021. Despite leading SRH to victory in the 2016 IPL and delivering stellar performances on the field, Warner's time with the franchise came to an abrupt end.

The Australian cricketer faced setbacks during the 2021 season, including being relieved of his captaincy midway due to poor form and a string of losses. Subsequently, he found himself sidelined and even blocked by the franchise on social media platforms. Warner's disappointment was palpable as he took on the role of a spectator, even carrying drinks for his team during matches.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Warner expressed his bewilderment at the treatment meted out to him by the team management. He emphasized the importance of fan engagement, considering it a crucial aspect of his relationship with the supporters. Despite the puzzling decision to block him on social media, Warner remains grateful for the unwavering support of his fans.

"It did hurt because it was a sense of like hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have. The engagement with the fans that I had, with the team had was very good," Warner said on Ravi Ashwin's YouTube channel.

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"I am not sure why I was blocked. But I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they kept coming back. That is what is most important. But from the blocking point of view, I do not know. I have been sitting on it for about 5 years. It was bizarre. At the end of the day, I still have fans who come onto my page and talk to everyone. So it is great," he added.

Warner was acquired by Delhi Capitals in 2022

Warner's contributions to SRH solidified his status as an IPL legend, with an impressive record of 4,014 runs in 95 matches. However, his journey took a new turn when he was acquired by the Delhi Capitals in 2022.

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Despite his commendable performances for DC, including two centuries and 22 fifties, Warner is yet to clinch an IPL title with his new team.