The veteran fast bowler, Dale Steyn said he is quite sure that the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be winning the upcoming edition of the tournament. In IPl 2019, he returned to RCB and played only 2 matches for the Virat Kohli-led franchise before he was ruled out with an injury.
However, Steyn will be playing for RCB in IPL 2020 after he was bought back by the franchise in the recently-concluded IPL Auction held in Kolkata. The Bengaluru-based franchise was able to buy the South Africa pacer at his base price of ₹2 crores after he went unsold in the initial round of the auction.
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Responding to tweets during a Q & A session on Twitter on Saturday, Dale Steyn said he is confident RCB will win the elusive IPL title in 2020.
I’m there, so, yeah!
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) December 21, 2019
When asked what is his plan for IPL 2020, Steyn replied: “Wickets, wickets and more wickets! With the added bonus of that trophy! Watch this space.”
Wickets, wickets and more wickets! With the added bonus of that trophy! Watch this space
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) December 21, 2019
🏆
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) December 21, 2019
Steyn, who has played 92 matches in the IPL, is just 4 away from reaching the landmark of 100 wickets in the most renowned T20 league. Having performed well in the Mzansi Super League in South Africa, he will be expected to lead the attack for RCB in IPL 2020.
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Apart from Steyn, RCB also bought Australia fast bowler Kane Richardson and two all-rounders in Isuru Udana of Sri Lanka and Chris Morris of South Africa. Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the franchise also bought Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch to bolster the top-order and the leadership group.
Shedding light on RCB’s auction strategy, newly-appointed Director of Cricket Mike Hesson said the team was clear that it wanted Dale Steyn for IPL 2020. He said, “We knew we wanted Steyn but we knew if we put a bid on him early, it might have gone up to three or four crores, which would have had flow-on effects.”
