South Africa Vs India: Faf du Plessis heaps praise on powerful Dale Steyn

After fast bowler Vernon Philander blew away Team India to help South Africa take the lead of 1-0 in the ongoing three-match Test series on the penultimate day of the first Test in Cape Town, skipper Faf du Plessis has hailed the hobbling speedster Dale Steyn, who faced four balls when hosts were reeling at 130 for nine in second innings.

“Credit to Dale … he had his pads on before we even thought of mentioning it to him. He wanted to get out there,” du Plessis was quoted as saying by Sport24.

It’s not always about surging to the summit of success; it’s more about vying for the team, and it was injury-marred Steyn came out to bat limping when the Proteas were in dire straits as AB de Villiers was keeping the other end intact.

“I feel incredibly bad for Dale. I know, having gone through injuries myself, that it takes a lot of time and effort to get back,” du Plessis was disappointed.

Earlier, on day four of the Newlands Test, the 34-year-old Phalaborwa-born Steyn made his arrival while wearing the moonboot from the hotel which further saw the right-arm fast bowler was moving with the help of crutches before putting his body in line for the team to fans so much delight at the picturesque stadium.

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“Dale worked for a year and he was challenged through periods where he started and got injured again,” du Plessis added when Steyn made his return after a prolonged gap of 13 months since November 2016 in Perth.

After being ruled out of the series, there would have been plenty playing in the mind of injury-stricken Steyn, who further decided to get ready for the batting, before du Plessis could have uttered a word with the former to not go out for the batting while carrying injury.

“The chat in the change room was obviously for Dale not to bat,” du Plessis maintained.

No one would have thought, strong-willed Steyn coming out to bat following the unfortunate heel injury which will keep him at least six weeks off the field as du Plessis wants to see him featuring the national side as soon as possible.

“Luckily it’s not his shoulder again. The injury that he has is something you can get over a lot quicker and we’re looking forward to bringing him back into the fold when he’s fit again,” du Plessis asserted.

Following the batting collapse, Steyn, who’s suffering from a damaged tissue made his heroic entry amid huge applause from the spectators to face Bhuvneshwar Kumar which further saw de Villiers was the last man-to-go on 35 when he was caught at deep mid-wicket after aiming for a big shot.

“We don’t want to injure him more, but we said that if AB was there Dale could just go and stand there and hopefully AB can smash a few sixes,” du Plessis said.

In 86 Tests so far, Steyn has bagged 419 wickets at an average of 22.32.

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