Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn believes playing cricket in India is the closest for a cricketer to have a ‘Rockstar’-like feel. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, August 31.

He is South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and has been one of the best pacers of this generation. Steyn has played cricket in India multiple times and he believes the Indian crowd is crazy for the game and can give a rockstar like feeling to a cricketer.

Also Read: Dale Steyn announced his retirement from all forms of cricket

“India is crazy! It’s the closest you’re going to be to feeling like a rock star. You’re treated like a Hollywood or Bollywood star. Cricket is just crazy there,” Steyn told SA Cricket Mag.

“You go to the airport and you’re bombarded, you go to practice and there’s 10,000 people watching. It’s doubtful I’ll ever have that experience in my life again with anything that I do.”

The 38-year-old has troubled several batsmen during the peak of his career. But he feels bowling to tail-enders made him worried instead of some of the greatest batsmen.

Also Read: Dale Steyn feels Mohammed Siraj should have played in WTC Final

“Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting were amazing batters (and sometimes you’d just nod in appreciation). They’re aware of your skills, too, so they’re trying to come out of this contest between batter and bowler unscathed, trying to get away with it without getting out. They only have one chance, where I at least get six balls,” said Steyn.

“Sometimes the best batters in the world weren’t the guys that bothered me that much because of that mutual respect. If I bowled well, they’d play me well. The guys I worried about were the guys who didn’t worry about who I was. The tailenders who came in and were scared but ruined your figures,” he added.