Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach Brad Haddin has revealed that the decision of dropping Australian opening batter David Warner from the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was not related to cricket.
After not having a good season of the IPL, Warner scored 289 runs for Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, and for his big contribution, he was adjudged with ‘Player of the Tournament’.
The southpaw’s 53-run knock in the summit clash against New Zealand helped his side in registering a comprehensive eight-wicket victory.
“I tell you what it was not a cricket decision that he was not playing for SunRisers Hyderabad. I think the one thing you have to realise with David is that he was not out of form, he was out of match practice. They had a long break, he did not go to Bangladesh or West Indies. But he turned up in really good headspace. He was hitting the ball well, circumstances were out of our control, even the coaching staff,” Haddin said about Warner in a Grade Cricketers Podcast.
“But it was not because he was out of form. All he needed was some match time, he was hitting the ball well. He just needed to spend some time in the middle to get the rhythm again. As the tournament went on, you have seen his class. He got a bit of rhythm back into his game and he was good to watch,” he added.
Meanwhile, Warner has hinted that he may play for a new club in the next edition of IPL, but SRH management is yet to officially declare his departure.
“I will put my name in the auction,” Warner told a morning show on Australian radio station SEN.
“By the signs of the recent IPL, I won’t be retained by the Sunrisers, so I’m looking forward to a fresh start,” he added.
Warner also indicated that SRH might retain New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson for IPL 2022.
“Make sure you keep supporting as my friend Kane will still be there please,” wrote Warner while replying to a fan on Instagram.
