Dale Steyn IPL 2021 team: Why won’t RCB pacer play Indian Premier League 2021?

Dale Steyn: The experienced South African fast bowler has opted out of the next season of the Indian Premier League.

Veteran South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has ruled himself out of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League. The development was made public after Steyn took to social media platform Twitter to opt out of the biggest T20 league.

It was in IPL 2019 that Royal Challengers Bangalore had signed Steyn as an injury replacement. In the auction before IPL 2020, the right-arm bowler remained unsold but was bought by RCB in the following rounds.

Steyn, who played three matches for Bangalore in IPL 2020, picked a solitary wicket and conceded 133 runs in the 11.4 overs he bowled last season.

Why won’t Dale Steyn play Indian Premier League 2021?

In his tweet, the 37-year old player laid emphasis on being “unavailable” for Royal Challengers or any other franchise in IPL 2021. Given his age, Steyn made it a point to mention that the same doesn’t mean that he is retiring from cricket.

Steyn, who made his IPL debut for RCB in 2008, has picked 97 wickets in 95 IPL matches at an average of 25.85, an economy rate of 6.95 and a strike rate of 22.43.

After an IPL 2020 stint, it was as recent as last month that Steyn had represented Kandy Tuskers in the inaugural season of the Lanka Premier League. In two matches for Tuskers, Steyn had dismissed as many batsmen at an average of 28 and an economy rate of 7.