Virat Kohli Sends Out Heartfelt Message For 'Friend' Dale Steyn

Team India captain Virat Kohli has sent out a heartfelt message for South Africa star and his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Dale Steyn after the latter was ruled out of the World Cup due to a shoulder injury. Steyn, on Tuesday, was ruled out of the entire World Cup.

The Proteas star had missed the games against England and Bangladesh and was looking set to play the game against India on Wednesday. However, he has failed to recover from the injury as Cricket South Africa confirmed he is out of bowling for the foreseeable future. This was the same injury that had also cut short his IPL campaign with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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Steyn was initially not a part of the Royal Challengers’ squad but had joined later as a replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile. The right-arm pacer had played two games, picking up four wickets before returning home due to the injury. And as Steyn recovers from the heartbreak, Kohli has wished him a speedy recovery.

“I feel really bad for Dale. He looked really happy. He was bowling really well and then suddenly we found out that he was not going to be able to continue,” said Virat Kohli on the eve of India’s tournament-opener.

“I feel bad for him because he has been a friend for a very long time. He is a motivated guy. He has been very happy to come back and play for South Africa. He has been doing very well. He still has the hunger and passion, but those niggles and injuries are just not going his way.

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“I can understand his frustration about those injuries. I wish him a speedy recovery. ‘He was looking in a great mental space, enjoying his cricket, bowling really well. I can understand how he must be feeling and I am feeling bad for him,” added Virat Kohli.

Hey @DaleSteyn62 – Our Skipper @imVkohli wishes you a speedy recovery ??? #TeamIndia #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/VcbBWveObw

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 4, 2019

India, meanwhile, will be opening their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5. South Africa, on the other hand, have already played two games and have lost both of them. The Proteas will be also without Lungi Ngidi for the match as the pacer is nursing a hamstring injury.