'Something going on': Explosive theory in David Warner's IPL axing

South African great Dale Steyn has suggested there's more to David Warner's brutal axing as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain than the IPL franchise is letting on.

Warner was left "shocked and disappointed" after losing both the captaincy and his place in Hyderabad's XI for Sunday's clash with Rajasthan Royals.

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Last-placed Hyderabad, coached by Australians Tom Moody and Trevor Bayliss, instead installed Kane Williamson as skipper in an attempt to reboot their season.

Head coach Bayliss has already hinted that Warner will not be rushed back, flagging a desire to "give some of the guys opportunities and not just disregarding them after one or two games".

"He was charging around as 12th man, doing as much as he could for the team," Bayliss said.

"He's been good, talking with Kane and some of the other players."

Moody admitted Warner was "shocked and disappointed".

"We'd be disappointed if he wasn't feeling that way," Hyderabad's director of cricket said.

"But he has come to terms with the logic."

However Steyn has suggested there might be more going on.

“There’s something going on there - I don’t know what’s going on there, really,” Steyn told Cricinfo.

“I don’t know whether David may have questioned some of the decisions they had made, maybe when Manish Pandey was left out. I heard him say something along the lines of it wasn’t his decision or it was out of his hands.

“Sometimes management don’t appreciate that.

“The captain of the team needs to take ownership of this squad and know who is going out onto the field, and sometimes that gets taken out of their hands.

“It seems like there’s definitely something happening behind closed doors that the public are not aware of.”

David Warner faces long wait in Covid-ravaged India

Sunrisers, who won their first IPL title under Warner's captaincy in 2016, doubled down on the captaincy snub by dropping Warner altogether for the match against Rajasthan.

Favouring Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi ahead of Warner, whose IPL contract is worth approximately $2.3 million, resulted in another loss while raising eyebrows around the world.

New Zealand great Dan Vettori termed it staggering, while some fans were left fuming.

Regardless, it could be a long month for the opening batsman, who is among the Australians waiting for an update from their federal government as to whether a ban on incoming travellers from India could be extended beyond May 15.

The restriction was introduced because of India's deadly second wave of COVID-19.

Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson last week fled the IPL and returned home, via Qatar, but any Australian attempting that journey now risks jail time and fines.

The IPL runs until May 31.

with AAP

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