IPL 2021 | “Purely a decision based on the combination”, Tom Moody on SRH dropping David Warner
The worst fear for all the David Warner fans came true on Sunday (May 2) as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) followed their decision to sack him as captain by also dropping him from the playing XI. Warner isn’t part of the SRH playing XI for their IPL 2021 fixture in Delhi against Rajasthan Royals (RR), with newly-appointed full-time skipper Kane Williamson taking over.
In their statement announcing the captaincy change on Saturday (May 1), the SRH think-tank did hint of David Warner’s potential ouster from the team for the RR encounter as they mentioned that their overseas combination is about to change.
Also Read: IPL 2021: What triggered the end of the David Warner era?
And, Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, only confirmed the massive change in the build-up to the RR fixture in Delhi. Moody stated it was a case of David Warner not anymore fitting into the right balance for SRH, who have opted to go in with Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Jonny Bairstow and of course, Williamson, as their four overseas men.
David Warner is one of the greats of IPL cricket.
“That’s purely a decision based on the combination,” Moody was quoted as saying to host broadcaster, Star Sports. “We’ve come to the conclusion that at this stage two overseas bat, an all-rounder and Rashid Khan is our best combination. We looked at it very closely.”
“Obviously Bairstow’s form and Williamson’s form is at a great height and we are very thrilled with the way they are playing and we had to make a hard call and someone had to miss out and unfortunately for Davey on this occasion, it’s him.”
David Warner “shocked” about SRH captaincy removal: Tom Moody
With 5,447 runs to his name from 148 matches at an average of 42.22 and strike-rate of 140.13, David Warner is easily one of the greats of IPL cricket. It was under Warner only that SRH clinched their maiden title back in 2016 and reached the playoffs in their subsequent campaigns.
Also Read: IPL 2021: David Warner reaches 10,000 T20 runs with fifty for SRH against CSK
Moody revealed Warner is feeling “shocked” and “disappointed” about the decision of being removed as skipper and also from the playing unit, always being someone who has represented SRH with a great sense of passion and desire.
“You would be disappointed if wasn’t feel that way like an elite sportsperson,” Moddy added. “They want to be playing, they want to be proving themselves to be doing their best they possibly can for the team and he’s come to terms with the logic behind what we are trying to achieve as a team perspective and a franchise perspective and he’s been terrific since. He’s rallied around the team and more importantly the team has also rallied around him.”
David Warner has been one of the most consistent performers in IPL.
Moody said it’s a call taken with SRH’s future in mind, with the team carrying an unsustainable balance for a while now and Warner’s removal opening a window of opportunity to rejig that. It’s a change that has also coincided with David Warner himself enduring a slump and decline on the batting front, unavoidably not being as explosive a willow-holder as he used to be.
“What’s happened in the past I don’t it’s that relevant when it comes to today. I think it’s more to do with how you approach the game today from the strategic point of view and also the mindset point of view.”
“We’ve obviously had some significant changes within the group in the last 24 to 48 hours with the change in personnel on the field and the leadership change with Kane Williamson leading. So it’s how quickly we make those adjustments and take advantage of the fresh look,” he concluded.