Dale Steyn, a former South African seamer who retired from international cricket on Tuesday (August 31), recounted his ‘film star’ experience playing in India. The 38-year-old former great has a long history of international and Indian Premier League cricket in India.
In 2019, he played his final IPL match for Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In an interview with sacricketmag.com, the South African said, “India is crazy! It’s the closest you’re going to be to feeling like a rock star. You’re treated like a Hollywood or Bollywood star. Cricket is just crazy there.”
He also said “You go to airport and you’re bombarded, you go to practice and there are 10,000 people watching. It’s doubtful I’ll ever have that experience in my life again with anything that I do.”
He also praised Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting for their ‘amazing batting’. “Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting were amazing batters (and sometimes you’d just nod in appreciation). They’re aware of your skills too so they’re trying to come out of this contest between batter and bowler unscathed, trying to get away with it without getting out. They only have one chance, where I at least get six balls,” he added.
On Tuesday, Steyn declared his retirement from all forms of cricket. He played in 93 Tests (439 wickets), 125 One-Day Internationals (196 wickets), and 47 Twenty20 Internationals (64 wickets). Steyn has already announced his retirement from Test cricket in August 2019 in order to extend his career after a series of ailments.
In 2005, he made his One-Day International debut for Africa XI against Asia XI in Centurion. In 2013, he had his best statistics of 6 for 39 against Pakistan in Port Elizabeth, as the pacer tormented batsmen in both Tests and limited-overs cricket. Steyn made his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2007, and he followed up with a career-best 3-0-9-4 against the West Indies in his second game.
In 2019, he played his last ODI against Sri Lanka, while the T20I against Australia in February of the previous year was his final international match. As per Zeenews.
