David Warner is sensationally dropped as captain of his IPL team with a Kiwi teammate chosen to replace him – as the Aussie cricket star remains stranded in India amid the country’s Covid-19 crisis
- Warner axed from captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, as announced on Saturday
- Kiwi cricketer Kane Williamson will replace Warner as the team’s new captain
- Warner joined the club in 2014 and captained team in 2016 and during last year
- Warner and other Aussies cricketers including Steve Smith stranded in India
- Commercial flights from India suspended and strict new travel laws introduced
Australian cricketer David Warner has been dropped as the captain of his Indian Premier League team as he remains stranded in the Covid-stricken country.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad announced the changes on Saturday night and confirmed New Zealander Kane Williamson will be stepping up to replace him.
Warner may even be sidelined for the team’s upcoming match against the Rajasthan Royals – with English batsman Jason Roy appearing to be a likely replacement.
Warner first joined the club in 2014 before going on to captain the side in 2016 and then losing the role due to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
He led the team again in 2020 after Williamson took over captaincy.
Australian cricketer David Warner (pictured with wife Candice Warner) has been dropped as the captain from his Indian Premier League team the Sunrisers Hyderabad
‘Sunrisers Hyderabad would like to announce that Kane Williamson will be taking over the captaincy for tomorrow’s match and for the remainder of IPL 2021,’ the Sunrisers said in a statement.
‘The team management has also made the decision that they will be changing their overseas combination for tomorrow’s match against Rajasthan Royals.
‘This decision has not come lightly as the management respects the enormous impact David Warner has had for the franchise over a number of years. As we face the remainder of the season we are sure David will continue to help us strive for success both on and off the field.’
The Sunrisers have had a woeful start to the season winning just one of six matches with Warner copping criticism for his recent performance scoring 57 runs off 55 balls against the Chennai Super Kings.
The 34-year-old accepted responsibility for the lacklustre performance.
‘I take full responsibility for the way I batted, I batted slow and hit the fielders,’ he said.
Warner with his wife Candice. He first joined the club in 2014 before going on to captain the side in 2016
Kiwi cricketer Kane Williamson (left) will step up and replace Warner as the captain for the remainder of the season
‘I probably hit 15 good shots to fielders and they are the ones that make or break the innings. I took too many balls.’
Warner who is known as one of the leading batsmen in the IPL is holding an unusually low strike rate of 110.28 this season.
His captaincy stripping comes amid India’s worsening Covid-19 crisis with Aussie players including Warner, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins all unable to return home.
Warner remains stranded in India as the country’s Covid-19 crisis worsens each day
Thirty-four Australians remain in India – 12 players, 11 coaches, four commentators, two umpires and five support staff, as well as a commentator from New Zealand who lives in Australia.
As many as 9,000 Australians – including the country’s top cricket players – have been stranded in India by the government’s ban on flights from the Covid-ravaged nation until May 15.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison suspended all direct commercial flights and chartered repatriation flights on Tuesday afternoon as India suffers a huge surge in cases and deaths.
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