Wriddhiman Saha Sheds Light on Facing Dale Steyn

Gone are those days when South African premier fast bowler Dale Steyn used to bamboozle the greatest batting lineups. However, the injuries ruined his glorious career when he was at the peak of his bowling. Meanwhile, Wriddhiman Saha reveals how it would be like facing speed gun Dale Steyn.

Saha started his career while facing Proteas veteran Steyn. He faced him twice and in both occasions, he was on the wrong side of the things. The first dismissal will always be remembered for Steyn’s incredible ability to reverse swing the ball.

Never seemed to go off the right channels – Wriddhiman Saha

The wicketkeeper-batsman further added Steyn and Australia’s Ryan Harris were the toughest bowlers he faced during his career. He felt that both bowlers never deliver the wrong lengths during the whole day of a Test match.

Saha went on to explain his first dismissal against Steyn. However, he recollected his 36-run knock under hard circumstances in the second innings of the game.

Nonetheless, he admitted that it would have been better if those runs came in first innings.

”Dale Steyn is, of course, one of the tougher bowlers I have faced, Australia’s Ryan Harris too. They never seemed to go off the right channels and could bowl day in day out at the same spot forcing you to make a mistake. I remember walking in to bat in my debut game when the ball was reversing,” Saha said.

”I think it was perhaps the third ball, I shouldered arms to a delivery well outside off but it just kept curving back in to take my off stump. Next innings, I was determined that I won’t leave deliveries having suffered in the previous innings. I made some 36-odd, kept playing more with the bat. Had the 36 come in the first innings, I guess it would have served better,” he maintained.

However, Saha then made himself a regular choice for the Indian team with his gutsy knocks. Since the retirement from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Saha carried the burden of wicketkeeping on his shoulders.

Of late, he is out from the team due to the repeated injury concerns. Wriddhiman Saha is currently in the rehabilitation period after completing his shoulder surgery, and on the other side, Dale Steyn is past the prime.