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IPL 2019 | I feel like a father figure at RCB, says Dale Steyn

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Dale Steyn, who was recently drafted into the Royal Challengers Bangalore as an injury replacement, has stated that he feels like a father figure of the side. The South African veteran has 696 wickets in international cricket, and has provided the much needed impetus for the RCB bowling attack.

Dale Steyn had made his international debut way back in 2004 and went on to become the number one ranked Test bowler for a period of six years. The South African has scalped 439 wickets and 196 wickets in just 93 and 125 Tests and ODI matches, and his strike rate of around 42 in Tests is a stuff of legends. He also has scalped 96 wickets in 92 games in the Indian Premier League, and has an economy of under seven. Nevertheless, he had made himself unavailable for the 2017 season of the cash rich league as he was returning from an injury and wanted to play international cricket, but went unsold in the subsequent auctions of 2018 and 2019. 

However, the Royal Challengers Bangalore had got in Steyn after the season had started and he played for the side after nine years, in the encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders, on April 19. RCB defended their total of 213 by ten runs, and even defended 161 by one run in the next game against Chennai Super Kings. The pacer returned figures of 29 for two and 40 for two in the two games. He feels that the side required someone to guide them in the bowling department, and he has just done that.

“I’ve watched them at the nets and they have had questions on how to swing the ball, what the mindset is. But I just think they needed somebody of senior stature to help them, to look up to. In batting, you have two of the greatest batsmen the game has seen in ABD and Virat Kohli. There are great bowlers, but in terms of IPL you are always looking for someone who has done phenomenally well; maybe to not just lead the attack but in terms of thinking, planning and everything like that. It’s nice to come in and it just feels like there’s almost a father-figure around… There are a lot of young fast bowlers who have immense talent but don’t know how to use it. In the last two games the guys have really come out of their shell and bowled phenomenally well. It feels like there’s almost a relief, they don’t have to take any blame,” he said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

The IPL is among the most competitive leagues in the world, and the Proteas’ pacer feels that the batsman friendly Indian conditions make it even more difficult for the bowlers.

“It’s tough because the conditions here are almost batter-friendly. There’s not a lot of seam movement or pace, and there could sometimes be a bit of spin as the tournament goes on and the pitches become more worn. In general, if you can account for these factors, you can be a superb player,” the 35-year-old explained.

The 23-year-old pacer Kagiso Rabada has been phenomenal for the South African team, and has even carried on from his performance on the international level into the franchise based tournament. The Delhi Capitals pacer has 23 wickets in 11 matches, and holds the Purple Cap at the moment. Steyn was all praise for his countryman, and even went on to say that he has an edge over top Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

“Kagiso has been phenomenal. Having not toured India a lot in his young career, he seems to be a level ahead of where some other bowlers are right now. And that’s including some of the great Indian players like your Bumrahs and everyone who are superb bowlers; but just looks like KG has gotten on to something that everybody else hasn’t right now. I’m a big fan of fast bowlers, love watching someone like Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and others bowl from across the world,” he signed off.

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