David Warner, the explosive Australian opener, has expressed his hurt and confusion over being blocked by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on social media. This comes after a tumultuous split between Warner and the franchise that saw him released before the 2022 IPL season.
Warner's story with SRH was a success story for much of his tenure. He captained the team to their only IPL title in 2016 and even won the Orange Cap (awarded to the highest run-scorer) twice while playing for them. He amassed a staggering 4,014 runs and led them to 35 victories in 67 matches as captain.
In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Warner talked about his tainted relationship with SRH, however, he didn't reveal anything about his exit but admitted he was hurt when they blocked him.
"It did (hurt) because it was a sense of like hurt for fans. The fans are the most important relationship you could have. With the engagement with the fans that I had, with the team had was very good," Warner said.
However, things went sour in 2021. Warner was removed from captaincy midway through the season due to a dip in form and a strained relationship with the franchise. Kane Williamson took over the captaincy, but their fortunes didn't improve as they managed only 3 wins in the remaining matches.
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"Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they keep coming back. That's what is most important. But from the blocking point of view, I don't know" pic.twitter.com/aOsEYyydbu
— Possible11 (@Possible11team) May 6, 2024
"Not sure why I was blocked. But, I did engage with a lot of fans on the social media side for SRH. I did feel it was my duty to engage with the fans, making sure they keep coming back. That's what is most important. But from the blocking point of view, I don't know. I have been sitting on it for about 5 years. It was bizarre. At the end of the day, I still got fans who come onto my page and talk to everyone. So it's great," he added.
The final blow came later, when Warner discovered he was blocked by SRH on social media. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, Warner admitted his hurt over this unexpected move. Though he didn't delve into the reasons behind the breakdown with SRH, it's evident that the entire episode left him feeling betrayed.
This adds another layer of complexity to Warner's current struggles in the IPL. Playing for the Delhi Capitals this season, he has managed only 167 runs in 7 matches, with just one half-century to his name. The Capitals themselves are facing inconsistency, with 5 wins and 6 losses in their last 11 games.
Even winning their remaining matches might not be enough to secure a spot in the playoffs, highlighting a difficult period for both Warner and his current team.
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