IPL 2021: Fans Unhappy With SRH's Decision To Leave Kane Williamson Out For KKR Clash

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) began their IPL 2021 campaign with a 10-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday night. SRH's fast bowlers were taken to the cleaners as Nitish Rana starred with a 56-ball 80 that helped KKR post 187/6. SunRisers got off to a nightmare start but half-centuries from Manish Pandey and Jonny Bairstow pushed them closer to the target but couldn't get them over the line. There were some strange decisions from the SRH team management during the course of the match, but the one which irked fans the most was the decision to leave out New Zealand superstar Kane Williamson.

Williamson was seen warming the bench at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai with SRH going un with David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi as their four overseas players.

Fans were clearly unhappy with decision to leave out Williamson and took to Twitter to express their disappointment.

Unfair with Kane Williamson keeping him on bench he is world class player.

— Sunil (@Sunildreamguy) April 11, 2021

How much do this man need to do to get selected? #KaneWilliamson #NoKaneNoGain #KaneintheTeam pic.twitter.com/YZ77F7DYWg

— Yatharth (@iYatharth29) April 11, 2021

This is Injustice , underutilization & contempt. It is heartbreaking to see someone like him not playing!What a Captain!What a Player! Every Year has a same story better is to let him play for new team or let him practise for WTC afterall He is a National Captain#KaneWilliamson

— Pranjal Chaurasia (@PranjalChaura18) April 11, 2021

When u make player like #KaneWilliamson sit on the bench, you deserve to loose @SunRisers !!! #ipl2021

— Cricket Saga (@cricsaga) April 11, 2021

Kane Williamson should have been a part of the playing eleven & not someone who just warms up the bench. His presence is crucial for the team.I hope SRH doesn't treat him like this in future matches.@SunRisers @davidwarner31

— Anil K Reddy (@AcomradeTweets) April 11, 2021

Without Kane Williamson..it hurts....srh should release Kane... they don't deserve a player like Kane Williamson

— Moni.. (@thecricgirl) April 11, 2021

No Kane Williamson in the side. This world has gone bonkers, keeping out the best player in these conditions out.
Indeed come to CSK Kane

— Rajdeep Singh (@rajdeep189) April 11, 2021

Not playing Kane Williamson is kind of injustice.

— Ƥ (@Pallette_) April 11, 2021

SRH also decided to open with Wriddhiman Saha and Warner, with Bairstow pushed down to two-down. 

Another decision that drew some flak was when Vijay Shankar came into bat ahead of Abdul Samad with quick runs being the need of the hour for SRH. Shankar was dismissed for 11 off 7 balls while Samad blasted an unbeaten 19 off eight balls. 

Williamson had captained SRH in 2018 in the absence of Warner. The New Zealander produced some stunning batting performances that season, ammassing 735 runs in 17 matches at an average of 52.50 and a strike-rate of 142.44. 

The next season he played just nine matches, scoring 156 runs. 

In the 2020 season in the UAE, Williamson intially was left out but went on to play 12 matches for SRH, scoring 317 runs at an average of 45.28 and a strike rate of 133.75.

SRH will next play Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on Wednesday.

Topics mentioned in this article

Kane Williamson Abdul Samad Vijay Shankar David Warner Jonny Bairstow Sunrisers Hyderabad Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2021 Cricket