You always challenged batsmen to bring their A-game: Sachin Tendulkar to Dale Steyn

As Dale Steyn announced his retirement from the longest format of the game on Monday, tributes started to pour in for perhaps the best fast bowler to emerge from South Africa. The right-hander enjoyed tremendous success in his 15-year red-ball career and ended up with 439 wickets in 93 Tests, leaving everyone wanting for more.

Steyn picked wickets everywhere even bringing his A-game to dead wickets in the Indian subcontinent and everyone remembers his match-winning five-wicket haul in the Ahmedabad Test when he helped South Africa to an innings victory over the hosts who were bowled out for 76 in first innings.

One batsman who fell to Steyn in that match was legend Sachin Tendulkar, who had some amazing battles with the fast bowler both in India and South Africa and he too paid tribute.

Sachin Tendulkar wishes Steyn the best for his future after Test retirement

The former India batsman, who retired in 2013 as the leading run-getter and century maker in both Tests and ODIs, took to Twitter in order to give his thoughts on Steyn’s retirement and wish him for his future. “Wishing you all the very best for the future @DaleSteyn62. You always challenged batsmen to bring their A-game to the ground. It’s been a joy to watch you bowl and play against you,” Tendulkar tweeted.

Dale Steyn’s career in recent times was hampered with a bad shoulder injury he suffered during the Australia Test series and then a heel injury which he suffered on comeback against India in 2018. The shoulder injury returned during his short stint in IPL 2019, which resulted in him missing the ICC World Cup 2019 and at the age of 36, it seemed like his body could no longer take the rigours of five-day cricket anymore.

“It’s terrible to consider never playing another Test again but what’s more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all. So I will be focusing on ODIs and T20s for the rest of my career to maximize my full potential and ensure my longevity in this sport,” Steyn was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz in his address announcing his retirement. He remains the greatest fast bowler to play for South Africa by a margin and Test cricket will always be thankful for his services.