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David Warner takes subtle dig at Sunrisers Hyderabad with shocking Instagram revelation

Rahul Verma · · 3 min read
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The Unlikely Social Media Fallout

The relationship between IPL legend David Warner and his former franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has taken a bizarre and public turn. Recently, cricket fans were left stunned when David Warner takes subtle dig at Sunrisers Hyderabad with shocking Instagram revelation. The Australian explosive opener shared a screenshot on his Instagram story, showing that the official handle of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise had blocked him. This digital exclusion has sparked widespread speculation about the current state of relations between one of the tournament’s most successful captains and the organization he once defined.

The revelation did not stop at a simple screenshot. When a fan took to the comments section to plead with the franchise, tagging them with the message, “@sunrisershyd, please unblock our captain, Warner,” the response from the cricketer himself was telling. Warner replied with a blunt, “They would never unblock me,” confirming that the rift is deep and perhaps personal.

A Legacy Left Behind

To understand the gravity of this situation, one must look at the monumental impact Warner had during his tenure with the Orange Army. Joining the franchise in 2014, he immediately set the tone by scoring 528 runs. By 2015, he was appointed captain, and in 2016, he led the team to their first and only IPL title to date. His 848-run haul in that championship season remains etched in IPL folklore.

Between 2014 and 2020, Warner was the heartbeat of the SRH batting lineup. He achieved the remarkable feat of being the team’s highest run-scorer in every season he participated in, consistently crossing the 500-run milestone. His stats with the franchise are staggering: 4,014 runs in 95 matches, an average of 49.5, and a strike rate of 143. He remains the only player in the history of the franchise to have crossed 3,000 runs, cementing his status as the greatest SRH player of all time.

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The 2021 Tipping Point

The decline of the relationship was as rapid as it was public. The 2021 season proved to be a watershed moment for both parties. As the team struggled with form, tensions began to boil over. In a series of events that eventually led to his departure, Warner made comments that were perceived as critical of the franchise’s ownership, particularly concerning team selection processes.

Following a loss, Warner’s post-match remarks hinted at interference from the owners regarding personnel choices. This friction proved irreparable. The franchise, facing immense pressure, stripped Warner of the captaincy and subsequently dropped him from the playing XI entirely. By the end of that season, the partnership had effectively ended. Warner moved on to the Delhi Capitals in 2022, but the latest social media development suggests that the bridges burned during that turbulent 2021 campaign are still in ashes.

Why This Matters for Cricket Fans

The digital snub by a franchise towards their most decorated former captain is unprecedented in the modern IPL era. While team changes and transfers are common, the act of blocking a former icon on social media speaks volumes about the emotional fallout behind the scenes. For the fans who cheered for the Warner-led side that captured the title in 2016, seeing this public disconnect is disheartening. It marks a sad final chapter in what was once a legendary union between a star player and a rising team.

As of now, there has been no official statement from the Sunrisers Hyderabad management regarding the social media block. Regardless of the internal reasoning, the image of a blocked profile remains a powerful symbol of how quickly sports loyalties can shift from admiration to bitterness.

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Rahul Verma

Rahul Verma is a senior cricket correspondent for NDTV Sports, recognised for bringing broadcast‑style clarity and data‑enriched narratives to digital sports journalism. A proud graduate of Hansraj College, University of Delhi, he started his career in radio commentary before moving into newsroom reporting. Rahul’s ability to decode complex match situations with the precision of an analyst and the flair of a storyteller has made him a trusted voice for millions of NDTV viewers and readers. He covers the Indian team across all formats and is a constant presence during the IPL, where he combines ball‑by‑ball coverage with behind‑the‑scenes insights on team strategies. His reporting also shines a light on the thriving grassroots cricket scene in North India, unearthing talent from school tournaments to state‑level age‑group cricket. A recipient of the Exchange4media Broadcasting Award and a RedInk prize, Rahul believes the best cricket stories are told with equal parts data, drama, and heart.