IPL 2019: David Warner has a special message for Sunrisers Hyderabad fans – Watch

David Warner has a special relationship with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. The Australian left-hander led from the front with 848 runs in the 2016 edition as Sunrisers Hyderabad won the title for the first time by defeating Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in a high-scoring thriller at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. Although he did not play in the 2018 edition, Warner, sporting a new avatar is back in the Sunrisers Hyderabad team and ahead of their opening game at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Uppal, Warner issued a special message for the fans on the team's official Facebook page. 

“This is David Warner. I have a special message for all Orange Army fans. Thank you all for the love and support for all these years. Now, it is our time to show the love back to our loyal fans. For our first home game, we are opening up 25000 seats across stands at just 500 rupees. So, head to www.sunrisers.in by Wednesday before 11 AM to book the best seats before they sell out. See you at the fortress,” Warner said. 

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The first game against for Sunrisers Hyderabad in their home stadium of Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Uppal will be on March 29 against Rajasthan Royals. The Rajiv Gandhi stadium is considered to be a fortress, having won plenty of games in the last couple of seasons. 

Warner was excluded from the 2018 Indian Premier League along with Steve Smith after the duo was found guilty of ball-tampering in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Cricket Australia banned them for one year. In their time away from international cricket, both Smith and Warner have plied their trade in global Twenty20 leagues. Smith and Warner were the marquee players in the Canadian Global T20 League while they also played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). 

Both players' Bangladesh Premier League campaigns were curtailed due to a elbow injury. While Warner's injury was not so serious, Smith had to undergo surgery which sidelined him for close to six weeks. Both players were not considered for the Pakistan series which will begin on March 22, which is Australia's final international assignment before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 which will be played in England.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sunrisers Hyderabad won the IPL title in 2016.
• David Warner did not play in IPL 2018 due to the ball-tampering scandal.
• Sunrisers Hyderabad will play their first game against Rajasthan Royals at home.