'No I’m not retired' - Dale Steyn pulls out of IPL 2021 edition

If you are a Royal Challengers Bangalore fan, then there is some bad news waiting for you. One of the most feared bowlers that world cricket has seen in the last decade, Dale Steyn, has announced that he will not be available for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Steyn has been a part of the IPL right from the inception in 2008. The right-arm pacer started out his IPL career with the Bangalore side in the inaugural edition. He later moved on from RCB and has since represented three other teams in the IPL. In the last 12 years, Steyn rendered his services to Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Lions before coming back once again to the Bangalore side in the year 2020.

Taking to social media platform Twitter, the South African wrote, “Just a short message to let everyone know that I’ve made myself unavailable for RCB at this year’s IPL, I’m also not planning on playing for another team, just taking some time off during that period. Thank you to RCB for understanding. No I’m not retired.”

Here is Steyn’s tweet

However, Steyn has confirmed that he will take part in other leagues across the world and said that he is still in love with the game. He capped off the tweet by saying he is not finished yet.

“I will be playing in other leagues, nicely spaced out to give myself an opportunity to do something’s I’ve been excited about as well as continue to play the game I love so much. NO, I’m NOT retired. Here’s to a great 2021.”

Steyn has played 95 matches in the IPL, and picked up close to 100 wickets (97), at an average of 25.85, and a decent economy rate of 6.91. However, in the 2020 edition of the IPL that was held in the UAE, Steyn played just 3 matches for the Bangalore franchise. His short season was also a disappointing one, as he could manage to pick up just a solitary wicket in the 13th IPL edition.

Steyn is a legend of South African cricket and is one of the most distinguished performers in the history of the game. The fiery right-arm pacer is the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket and has scalped 439 wickets for his country in the whites. He is also the fifth-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in the ODI format of the game as well, and has picked up close to 200 wickets (196).