IPL 2018: Not Shikhar Dhawan but this cricketer to become the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad

The cricketer from New Zealand Kane Williamson has been appointed as the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad to lead the team after the disgraced former skipper David Warner has been banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia after his name surfaced in the ball-tampering case. The former Australian Skipper Steve Smith has already been announced to be replaced by Ajinkya Rahane.

The franchise tweeted on Thursday, quoting the team CEO K. Shanmugam. "We are happy to announce Kane Williamson as the captain of SunRisers Hyderabad for IPL 2018," Shanmugam said.

"I have accepted the role to stand in as captain this season. It's an exciting opportunity with a talented group of players. I look forward to the challenges ahead," Williamson said after being appointed the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The BCCI barred David Warner and his partner in crime Steve Smith from participating in the IPL 11. The decision from the BCCI came after Cricket Australia awarded a one-year ban to the two the players.

"They (Cricket Australia) have banned two players and we are also barring these two players from this year's IPL," IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla told media persons.

"We wanted everything in our own hands. First, we waited for ICC's decision, after that Cricket Australia and then we decided on the matter," Rajeev Shukla said.

"The replacements will be made available to the two teams. We did not take any decision in haste, it was a well thought out decision," he added.