Swashbuckling Australian batsman David Warner has been reinstated as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020).
Warner had missed the 2018 IPL season in the aftermath of the infamous Sandpaper Gate controversy wherein he was handed a one-year ban by Cricket Australia. The Australian board had also said that the left-handed batsman will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future.
Earlier, Warner led SRH for three seasons -- 2015 to 2017 -- and helped the team to title win in 2016. The Australian batsman has captained Hyderabad in 45 matches overall, with 26 wins and a win-loss ratio if 1.368. On other hand, Kane Williamson has led the Sunrisers in 26, winning 14 games at a win-loss ratio of 1.272.
However, Warner returned to IPL action last year and played under Kane Williamson for the Hyderabad-based franchise. "I'm thrilled to be given the captaincy for IPL 2020," Warner said in a message posted on the SRH Twitter handle. "I'm extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to lead the team once again.
Announcement#OrangeArmy, our captain for #IPL2020 is @davidwarner31. pic.twitter.com/lV9XAMw6RS
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) February 27, 2020
"I'd like to thank Kane and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) for the way you guys led throughout the last couple of years, you guys did an outstanding job. And I'll be leaning on you guys for support and your insight to the game as well. And to the management thank you once again for giving me this opportunity. And I'll try my very, very best to lifting that IPL Trophy this year," he added.
In the four seasons he has played for SRH, Warner has tallied 562, 848, 642 and 692 runs -- finishing with the Orange Cap in 2015, 2017 and 2019. With 4,706 runs from 126 IPL games, the Australian opener is fourth in the list of the tournament's all-time run getters, behind the Indian trio of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.
Sunrisers will begin their IPL 2020 campaign against Mumbai Indians on April 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.