IPL 2018: It won't be easy to fill in Warner's shoes, believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Sunrisers Hyderabad were jolted with a severe blow when their skipper David Warner was barred from playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season. He was banned for 1 year by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal which was caught in Cape Town a few days ago. The franchise has bagged the services of Alex Hales as his replacement for this season but it won’t be easy for him to fill in the big shoes of Warner. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar believes that the team will miss him in the upcoming season.

The swashbuckling left-hander was at the centre of all their plans in the last couple of years. He led the team admirably well as SRH won the coveted title in 2016 and even went on to win the Orange Cap twice in last three seasons. Kane Williamson has been named the skipper of Sunrisers now as they would look to perform well even in the absence of their gun player in Warner.

It will not be easy to fill his shoes

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, while speaking to Mail Today, believed that it will not be easy for anyone to replace David Warner in the line-up. Though Alex Hales has replaced him it would be tough for him to replicate the similar kind of impact on the game. “Of course, we will miss him (Warner). A batsman like him can single-handedly win you matches. You always want someone like him and he was playing so well as a batsman and as a captain. His replacement (Alex Hales) is also good but it will not be easy to fill his shoes,” he said.

Praises the new skipper

Bhuvi also showered praises on their new skipper Kane Williamson and hoped that he will do a good job while at the helm for his team. “He’s a superb captain. We know how good he has been for New Zealand in the past few years. He is a calm guy and knows what he is doing as a skipper. Last season, he helped Warner a lot. The management gave him the opportunity and everyone trusts him, so I am sure he’ll do a good job,” the vice-captain of the team added.

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