Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma recently shared insights into his illustrious career, revealing the bowler who has posed the greatest challenge for him. Despite facing numerous formidable opponents, Sharma singled out former South African pacer Dale Steyn as particularly tough, though he stopped short of labeling it a “nightmare” experience. Sharma, known for his exceptional skills in white-ball cricket, has amassed over 10,000 runs in ODIs and more than 4,000 runs in T20Is, cementing his status as one of India’s premier batsmen.

In the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India, Sharma led the national team to the final match without conceding a single defeat. However, the team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the final in Ahmedabad on November 19, despite their impressive journey to the summit clash.

Looking ahead, the 37-year-old cricketer is gearing up to lead India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA. India, under Sharma’s leadership, finds itself grouped with Ireland, Canada, the USA, and Pakistan, with all league matches slated to be held in the USA.

“I’ve watched his videos like 100 times before I went to bat…”

During a podcast on Dubai Eye 103.8, Sharma lauded Dale Steyn’s prowess, acknowledging the challenges of facing the legendary South African bowler. Despite not always coming out on top in their encounters, Sharma expressed admiration for Steyn’s ability to swing the ball at pace, labeling him as an “absolute legend” of the game.

“Facing Dale Steyn from South Africa was not a nightmare, but I’ve watched his videos like 100 times before I went to bat. He is an absolute legend of the game, and what he has achieved in his career is just superb to watch. I’ve faced him many times,” said Rohit Sharma.

“He used to swing the ball at a pace which was never easy. He was a fierce competitor, always wanting to do everything for the team and win every game and every session. It was nice to come up against him, not that I had huge success against him, but I enjoyed my battle,” he added.

A closer look at Sharma’s IPL journey with MI

Currently plying his trade for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Sharma’s stint has been marked by ups and downs. Although he relinquished the captaincy before the start of the season, MI’s campaign ended prematurely as they became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament.

Sharma’s individual performance in the IPL has seen fluctuations as well. Initially enjoying success with 297 runs in the first seven games at an average of 49.50 and a strike rate of 164.09, his form waned, resulting in a disappointing overall tally of 349 runs in 13 matches at an average of 29.08 and a strike rate of 145.42.

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Fans eagerly await Sharma’s next appearance when the Mumbai Indians take on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at their home ground, Wankhede Stadium, on May 17, Friday. With a formidable squad featuring the likes of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and others, Sharma will be keen to make a significant impact and lead his team to victory in the upcoming encounter.

Former South African speedster Dale Steyn has offered insights into the transition the Mumbai Indians face with Hardik Pandya taking over the captaincy. While acknowledging the challenge, Steyn expresses optimism about the team’s ability to adapt and excel under Pandya’s leadership.

In a significant move ahead of IPL 2024, the Mumbai Indians traded Hardik Pandya to the Gujarat Titans and appointed him as their captain. This decision marks a departure from Rohit Sharma’s captaincy tenure, signaling a new era for the franchise.

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Challenges of Leadership Change

Dale Steyn recognizes the complexities involved in such a transition. The change in leadership brings with it a shift in dynamics and responsibilities, necessitating adjustments from both players and management alike.

Steyn’s Insight

Speaking to PTI, Steyn highlighted the importance of adequate preparation and communication to address any concerns or uncertainties among the players. He emphasized the need for a pre-IPL camp to iron out potential issues before the commencement of the tournament.

“I believe that the dynamics of leaving Mumbai and then returning to Mumbai will be difficult. I hope a month prior to the IPL, they had some kind of camp. Therefore, before the first game, whatever that’s upsetting anyone gets worked out,” the former fast bowler was cited by PTI.

Professionalism and adaptability

Despite the inherent challenges, Steyn maintains faith in the professionalism and adaptability of Mumbai Indians players. He believes that the team’s experienced individuals possess the maturity and skill to navigate through the transition period seamlessly.

Steyn’s optimism stems from his confidence in the resilience of international cricketers. He believes that the Mumbai Indians, with their wealth of experience and talent, are well-equipped to handle any obstacles that may arise and continue their pursuit of success in the IPL.

Steyn continued: “You’ve got big identities, guys who have done the decision-making before and now in a different role. It could be the tiny needle that we are unable to see or hear on television. Nevertheless, Mumbai should be alright since these international cricket players know how to set aside their egos.”

Reflection on the Mumbai Indians’ Performance

The Mumbai Indians last clinched the IPL title in 2020 under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Despite falling short in the previous season against the Gujarat Titans, the franchise remains a formidable contender in the league.

In the IPL 2024 mini-auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured the services of Pat Cummins for a staggering Rs 20.5 crore. The victorious captain of the ODI World Cup 2023, Pat Cummins, is poised to assume leadership responsibilities in the upcoming IPL 2024 season for SRH. Recent reports indicate that Cummins, the renowned Australian fast bowler, who fetched a record-breaking sum in the auction, is the prime candidate to succeed Aiden Markram as captain.

Pat Cummins: The Leadership Solution for SRH

Aiden Markram, who led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to triumph in the inaugural SA20 league, was appointed as SRH’s skipper for IPL 2023. However, Markram endured a dismal season as captain, with the Hyderabad franchise failing to advance to the IPL playoffs. SRH concluded the season at the bottom of the table, managing to win only four out of 14 matches. Markram’s batting form also suffered under the pressures of leadership, prompting scrutiny of his captaincy skills.

In contrast, Cummins brings a wealth of experience and leadership acumen to the fore. He recently guided Australia to victory in both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup in 2023. Known for his aggressive bowling and proficient batting, Cummins emerges as a valuable all-rounder for SRH.

Pat Cummins Poised to Assume SRH Captaincy in IPL 2024

The acquisition of Australian pacer Pat Cummins for a staggering Rs 20.5 crore in the IPL 2024 mini-auction, held in December 2033 in Dubai, is anticipated to herald a leadership shift within the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) team. It is widely expected that Cummins will assume the role of captain, replacing current skipper Aiden Markram.

As per a report from Cricbuzz, SRH is poised to unveil Pat Cummins as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, prompted by the team’s lackluster performance in the preceding seasons.

Despite strong speculation surrounding Cummins’s appointment as captain, the SRH management is yet to make an official announcement regarding the leadership transition.

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SRH’s Bowling Coach Dale Steyn to Sit Out IPL 2024 Season

Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be deprived of the expertise of their bowling coach, Dale Steyn, for the upcoming IPL 2024 season. According to reports from Cricbuzz, the South African cricketing legend has opted to take a hiatus from IPL 2024, intending to make a comeback in the subsequent year. The Hyderabad-based franchise is expected to imminently announce his replacement.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will commence their IPL 2024 campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on March 23. Their inaugural home fixture will be against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians on March 27.

Dale Steyn, a former South African fast bowler, commented that “Captains could be top class bowlers”, while giving an example of Keshav Maharaj’s leadership for Durban Super Giants in the SA20 2024 league. In group stage matches Maharaj won seven out of ten matches, thus taking them to the final where they lost to SunRisers Eastern Cape by 89 runs. Throughout the tournament, he showed exceptional skills in his leadership role.

In his talk with TOI, Steyn said “South Africa has got a gem like Keshav Maharaj. At present he is captaining Durban Supergiants and he is doing a fantastic job.” His captaincy exploits were highlighted by Steyn.

Bowlers as Captains: Maharaj’s Leadership

“Maharaj has also captained South Africa in white-ball cricket 12 times and boasts an excellent record, especially in T20Is,” said Steyn. During T20Is however Proteas have never been defeated since this young man became their leader at the age of 34 years; they have won four out of five games played with one No Result. Nevertheless, his ODI record does not speak as well with two victories from seven games as skipper.

Steyn, however, alluded to the intellectual aspect of captaincy which requires both strategizing and understanding the opponents. In his discussion, he also mentioned Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and Anil Kumble amongst many other famous names who were former bowlers or bowling all rounders that have captained their respective sides with much success over the years.

Steyn’s Perspective: The Role of Bowlers in Leadership

“Bowlers are thinking cricketers,” Steyn observed. “They can read players better than anyone else.” The next one is a bit harder. You must be able to manage your workload as well as when you should not bowl or bowl in addition to handling injuries.

Furthermore, Steyn praised Pat Cummins for being an exemplary leader and noted that he had stated “Pat Cummins has found this really good.” He added: “I think what Pat’s done now is pretty extraordinary actually.” During his tenure as captain, Cummins won some iconic matches for Australia including clinching the WTC title and ODI world cup which showed his versatility as a player across multiple formats.

Finally, fast bowlers tend to attract more injuries compared batters who might captain their teams. This notwithstanding, Cummins’ stewardship performance exhibits how bowlers can prosper in senior positions at cricket’s highest level.

Dale Steyn, a former pacer from South Africa, has been hired as the bowling coach of the Washington Freedom in advance of the Major League Cricket 2023 season.

In addition, Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques has been given the captain’s role for the inaugural Washington Freedom tournament. Henriques, 36, has extensive T20 leadership experience, having won two titles with the Sydney Sixers in Australia’s premier T20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL), over the course of five seasons.

Henriques will be in charge of a roster of international stars that the franchise has already revealed, including Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Anrich Nortje.

The team’s head coach has been chosen to be Greg Shipperd. Shipperd has been Sydney Sixers’ lead trainer starting around 2015, following a four-year spell with the Indian Chief Association establishment Delhi Thrill seekers. Dale Steyn’s incorporation will be an enormous lift for Opportunity. After stints with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Steyn, who’s playing career came to an end recently, will take over as Freedom’s coach.

Delighted to have the legend Dale Steyn on board with us: Sanjay Govil

“We are very happy with the squad we have assembled so far. Moises (Henriques) and Greg (Shipperd) have a history of winning championships together at the Sydney Sixers. It is important to build that winning culture around a young franchise right from the offset. Also delighted to have the legend Dale Steyn on board with us. The idea of having such a figure on American shores spending time with some of the youngsters on the squad is truly exciting,”

said Sanjay Govil, owner of Washington Freedom as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Dale Steyn was essential for the Sunrisers Hyderabad set-up as a player in the Indian Head Association. After his time with Sunrisers Hyderabad, he went on to play for Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore for the second time. The South African pacer resigned from all organizations of cricket prior to taking up the job of bowling trainer for Sunrisers Hyderabad.