Warner recalls fond memories of playing with Bhuvi

Former Australia cricketer David Warner has revealed how Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a big role in orchestrating bowling strategies for the Sunrisers Hyderabad under his captaincy, lauding the star India

pacer and calling him one of the best bowlers in the game.

Both Warner and Bhuvneshwar joined Hyderabad in 2014, having been picked up in the auction.

Although 2014 and 2015 didn’t go in favour of the team, Warner and Bhuvneshwar played crucial roles in Hyderabad winning the title in 2016.

“Another throwback, when it came to orchestrating our bowling strategy at Sunrisers, there’s no one quite like @imbhuvi. I genuinely believe he ranks among the best in the game,” Warner posted on Instagram on Tuesday.

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Warner was the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2016, only behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli. Bhuvneshwar was the highest wicket-taker that season, with 23 wickets in 17 matches at an impressive economy of 7.42.

In 2015, Warner was appointed skipper of Hyderabad and ended the season as the tournament’s leading run scorer. He continued as captain in 2016, leading the franchise to its first championship, scoring 69 runs from 38 deliveries in the final against Bengaluru.

In 2017, Warner scored 126 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders, breaking his previous career-high Indian Premier League score of 109 not out. He finished the season as the leading run scorer again.

After having been named as skipper again for IPL 2018, Warner stepped down from the role after the ball tampering affair in South Africa and BCCI banned him from playing during the season.

Warner returned to the team in IPL 2019, scoring 85 runs in his first game before scoring an unbeaten hundred against Bengaluru two days later.

Meanwhile, in 2018, Bhuvneshwar was named the vice-captain of the team. In the IPL 2022 mega-auction, he was bought back by Hyderabad for ₹4.2 crores. He was later released by them after the 2024 IPL.