Why it was an extremely poor decision by SRH to remove David Warner as the captain

Just put yourself in the shoes of David Warner, and you will possibly understand what he might be going through at the moment. He is the 5th highest run-scorer in IPL history. He is the only batsman in the history of the IPL to have scored 50 fifties in the tournament.

He was even the highest run-scorer for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) side in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). But then, after 6 matches that the SRH side has played in IPL 2021, not only has Warner been removed as the captain of the Hyderabad franchise, he has also been sacked from the playing XI as well.

Now, does Warner deserve this treatment after all that he has given to the franchise? Did the SRH management act in haste by giving out this treatment to a man who has been extremely valuable to the franchise?

David Warner- A Class apart for the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise

Whenever we pose such questions, a little dive into the numbers will be of some help. In the table below, let us take a look at Warner’s record for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise with the willow.

Even in the 2020 edition of the IPL, the left-hander was in scintillating form for the Hyderabad franchise. Warner scored a colossal 548 runs and emerged as the 3rd highest run-scorer in the 2020 IPL edition. He averaged close to 40 last year and scored his runs at a strike rate in excess of 130. And, he performed so well, with the additional responsibility of leading the side as well. Apart from that, Warner has won the Orange Cap award 3 times as well.

David Warner- A Captain par Excellence

Now, let us delve into whether David Warner deserved to be sacked as the captain of the Hyderabad franchise. In the table below, let us take a look at the performance of the Hyderabad franchise since Warner took over as the full-time skipper.

Note: Warner missed the entire 2018 edition of the IPL, and Kane Williamson was the SRH skipper in the 2019 IPL edition

So, there you have it. Out of the 4 seasons that Warner has been the skipper of the ‘Orange Army’, the Hyderabad side has qualified for the playoffs on 3 occasions. Warner also lead the ‘Orange Army’ to the IPL title in the year 2016. Even in the 2020 IPL season, Warner did an excellent job as the captain, as the Hyderabad outfit finished at 3rd place in the points table.

In fact, Warner boasts of one of the best records as captain in the history of the IPL. And, just due to one bad start to an IPL season, he has been sacked as the skipper of the Hyderabad side.

Is this fair?

The decision taken by SRH is surely one of the worst in IPL history

Ans surely, this decision by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) side will go down as one of the worst decisions ever taken in the history of the IPL. They have treated a man who has brought tremendous success to their franchise in a manner that is both hurtful as well as disrespectful.

Warner has given his all for the Hyderabad franchise, and has been the pillar of strength for the ‘Orange Army’. But in return, the Hyderabad side has shown total disrespect to him. And surely, seeing Warner carrying out the duties of the 12th man is a sight that is painful, isn’t it?