IPL 2021: Twitter reacts after Sunrisers Hyderabad sacks David Warner as captain

Kane Williamson is set to take over the mantle of the captaincy of the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the remaining half of the season from David Warner, confirmed an official Press release of the franchise. 

Further, the management has also decided to alter the team’s overseas combination for the game against Rajasthan Royals, which is scheduled to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, in a Sunday doubleheader (2nd May 2021).

This comes after Sunrisers Hyderabad has constantly struggled in the season with Warner himself struggling both as a batsman and as a leader. He admitted and took responsibility for his slow knock against Chennai Super Kings and the team sits at the bottom of the table at the halfway mark of the league with only a solitary win from six games currently.

The leadership change is set to come in effect from tomorrow. “Sunrisers Hyderabad would like to announce that Kane Williamson will be taking over the captaincy for tomorrow’s match and for the remained of the IPL 2021”, read the official release by the franchise, which also mentioned the “enormous impact that David Warner has had for the franchise over a number of years.”

Kane Williamson led SRH into the IPL Finals 2018

Notably, Warner has missed out on captaining the team in the 2018 and 2019 edition when he was penalized for his involvement in the ball-tampering saga against South Africa. In his absence, Williamson led the team and ended up winning the Orange Cap (735 runs at 52.50 with eight half-centuries). That remains Williamson’s best season as a batter in all his participation running since 2015 to date. 

Further, the 2018 edition under his leadership remains to be the only second instance (after 2016) when SRH proceeded to the summit clash of the Indian Premier League, although they could not evade a defeat against Chennai Super Kings. While in 2019, SRH exited after losing the Eliminator.

Meanwhile, David Warner is also understood by the franchise to “continue to help” them “strive for success both on and off the field”. While the management has not yet named any contender, having taken the call that “they will be changing the overseas combination for tomorrow’s match against Rajasthan Royals”, the probable entrant remains England opening batsman Jason Roy, who was included by the franchise as a replacement of Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who pulled out of the tournament before it started. 

Warner’s sacking has raised eyebrows aplenty as he has kept the team in good shape and this year’s failure has been not rare, but his first one. Despite not winning another title, SRH remains to be the most consistent team in the league, qualifying unfailingly since 2016. 

Here’s how the Twitterverse reacted:

Mood. pic.twitter.com/x7dlSj95qd

— Manya (@CSKian716) May 1, 2021

Carried the team for years, the most consistent OS captain, one of the most prolific overseas players in the league, scored truckloads of runs and danced his ass off on Butta Bomma. Warner is more Hyderabadi than Australian. Horrible call, @SunRisers.

— Manya (@CSKian716) May 1, 2021

Warner dropped from captaincy. What a disrespect! SRH should learn from RCB and stick with their captain no matter what. 😡

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) May 1, 2021

Warner as a captain for SRH

4 seasons
1× trophy
3× playoffs

Dropped from captaincy& team just because of 3,4 failures 💔@davidwarner31 you deserved better 😭 pic.twitter.com/2L7lEAnSoi

— Dinesh (@Thaladinesh_) May 1, 2021

the disrespect Warner gets is unreal. absolute freak. Insane stats. one of the greats of the IPL. pic.twitter.com/GTTbkOCVQ1

— Archit. (@IndianJoeyy) May 1, 2021

Eoin Morgan after seeing SRH has removed David Warner from the Captaincy due to team's poor performance #Warner pic.twitter.com/hQGrVqvqvd

— ayushMAHAN. 😷 (@_ayushmahan) May 1, 2021

This would have still been a dream if Warner wasn't a Riser pic.twitter.com/NdZ2w06k5m

— DW31 FOREVER (@jersey_no_46) May 1, 2021

one bad season isn’t going to change his legacy in the IPL.

Warner came back strong after sandpaper-gate and he will come back strong from this too. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/BAHcx2kq2i

— Sia ²⁴ (@fcbsiaaa) May 1, 2021

"I can assure you, Kane isn't going anywhere."
– David Warner

Well he kept the word by sacrificing himself 🥺🥺💔💔

— Ryan Ike (@RyanIke4) May 1, 2021

Warner won't be dropped this early no way, put respect for a guy who has been ruling IPL since years now

— arfan (@Im__Arfan) May 1, 2021

Srh Management to David Warner 🤡 pic.twitter.com/KDFyxXzp40

— Prakathi Wears Mask 😷 (@galwithnochill) May 1, 2021

SRH has also announced there will be a change in their overseas combination for their next match.

Kane Williamson is new Captain and they can't drop Bairstow and Rashid Khan. It means Warner is likely to be benched ??

Can't even imagine #SRH without David Warner.

— Abhi. (@Abhicricket18) May 1, 2021

Accept it or not David Warner loved Sunrisers Hyderabad Team more than his National Team.

500 plus Runs Every Season from 2016. Also this season is not over yet. Very Pathetic Management and this Management decision is by Tom Moody and VVS Laxman for sure. #DavidWarner pic.twitter.com/cNALDIBRCO

— Awarapan 🇮🇳 (@KingSlayer_Rule) May 1, 2021