Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn lauded Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as India’s head coach and said his aggression and game awareness on the field will be beneficial for the Men in Blue. BCCI announced Gambhir as head coach of the Indian team after the departure of Rahul Dravid. India clinched the T20 World Cup title to end the 11-year-long ICC trophy drought in his last assignment. “I’m a big fan of Gautam Gambhir. I love his aggression. He’s one of the few Indians I ever played against who came back at you, and I like that. I think he’s going to take that into the dressing room with guys like Virat and some of the other senior players who might not play as big a part anymore. I’m not too sure,” Steyn told Star Sports.

“Not just in India, but in world cricket, we need guys who are a little bit more aggressive and play the game a little bit harder. We all seem to play in the leagues against each other, and we become quite friendly and friends. I like the way that he’s fierce on the field but a gentleman off the field. He’s also streetwise, a very smart cricketer, and has a great cricket brain. So I think from that point of view, he’s going to be fantastic for them too,” he added.

Former Proteas all-rounder Jacques Kallis also remains confident in Gambhir’s ability to excel in the job with his aggressive nature.

“It’s great to see Gautam getting into the coaching side of things. He’s got a really good cricket brain. He’ll bring some fire and loves playing the game aggressively. I think he’ll bring that added touch, and the guys will certainly learn a lot from him. He’s got a lot to add and will bring significant value to that Indian side. I wish him all the best—not too much against us, but I’m sure he’ll do a fantastic job,” Kallis said.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi added, “I think it’s a big opportunity, and we need to see how he makes the most of it. I have seen his interviews, and he talks positively and is very straightforward.”

Gambhir will join the Indian side for the Sri Lanka tour, where India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs against Sri Lanka, starting on July 27.

Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn are all too familiar with the heartbreak of being a South African at ICC events, and as the Proteas broke the jinx by entering their maiden T20 World Cup final, both men felt emotionally overwhelmed. South Africa handed a nine-wicket thrashing to Afghanistan in the semifinals in Tarouba, Trinidad to make the final after seven semifinal disappointments of the past. “We are in the finals. Couldn’t be happier for @AidzMarkaram and the team, one more to go,” wrote former skipper Smith on his X account, tagging current captain Aiden Markram.

Couldn’t be happier for @AidzMarkram and the team, one more to go.

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) June 27, 2024

Steyn, the premier fast bowler of his time, was as delighted to see his country in the showpiece’s final, and lauded the pace bowlers for producing a brilliant effort to bowl out the Afghans for a feeble 56.

“It’s emotional down here. We’re into a final. Proteas with the bit between their teeth! “It’s been destructive poetry in motion. Beautiful to watch,” Steyn scribbled on his X handle.

It’s emotional down here.

We’re into a final

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 27, 2024

The South African government too congratulated the team for achieving a historic feat.

“Congratulations @ProteasMenCSA on reaching the finals in the T20 World Cup for the first time beating Afghanistan by 9 wickets.” The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) also lauded the rivals for reaching the title clash, even though they were crestfallen by the result in the semifinals.

“Not exactly the ending we hoped for in this T20 World Cup. But hats off to #AfghanAtalan for an unforgettable performance throughout the event.

“Congratulations to @ProteasMenCSA for securing their first-ever final berth in World Cup cricket.”

South Africa cricket legend Dale Steyn left a few surprised as he named his four semi-finalists for the T20 World Cup 2024. Steyn, who is an avid follower of the game and also a personality that doesn’t shy away from expressing his opinions. With the Super 8s stage already active, the T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies has entered an intriguing stage. In a video shared on Instagram, the South Africa pace icon left out the England cricket team as he named the four teams he thinks would qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals.

Steyn picked India, South Africa, West Indies and Australia as his four semi-finalists. To the surprise of many, Steyn left out the England team, a side that didn’t just win the last edition of the T20 World Cup, in 2022 but also defeated West Indies in their most recent Super 8 clash.

England Hammered West Indies in T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8s:

Opening batter Phil Salt thrashed a brilliant 87 not out off just 47 balls as defending champions England romped to an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in their T20 World Cup Super Eight clash.

Salt smashed seven fours and five sixes during a swashbuckling innings at the Daren Sammy National Stadium in St. Lucia while Jonny Bairstow hit an unbeaten 48 as England finished on 181-2 off 17.3 overs after earlier restricting the West Indies to 180-4.

Player of the Match Salt effectively sealed victory after cutting loose in the 16th over, hammering 30 runs off West Indies bowler Romario Shepherd with an exhibition of power-hitting that included three sixes and three fours.

The win marked an emphatic return to form for England, who laboured through the first round group phase and flirted with elimination at one stage.

Earlier, a disciplined English bowling performance had held the West Indies to a relatively modest total of 180 in the Group 2 clash of two-time T20 champions.

With AFP Inputs

Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma has established himself as one of the biggest stars of the modern game and during the course of his illustrious career, he has faced a plethora of legendary fast bowlers and spinners. Rohit was recently asked to pick the bowler that gave him ‘nightmares’ and the veteran batter was quick to come up with an answer. Rohit said that although he did not get any nightmares, legendary South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn was a fierce competitor. Rohit further stated that he watched more than 100 videos before he went out to bat against the celebrated pacer.

“Not nightmares but I have gone and watched his videos like 100 times before I went in to bat. That was Dale Steyn. He is an absolute legend of the game. And what he has achieved in his career is just superb to watch. And I have faced him many times. He is quick. He used to swing the ball at that pace, which is not easy. It is quite tough. And he was a fierce competitor. He just went out there wanting to do everything, to win every game and every session, so it was nice to come up against him. Not that I had much success against him, but I enjoyed my battles,” Rohit said in an interaction with Dubai Eye 103.8.

This is not the first time that Rohit praised Steyn as back in 2020, he was asked a similar question and he took Steyn’s name as one of the bowlers he liked during the start of his career.

“When I came into the side, the fastest bowler in the world used to be Brett Lee. In my debut ODI series, I went to Ireland to face South Africa, and Dale Steyn was pretty quick then as well. When I started playing, I really liked Lee and Steyn, I had difficulties in facing them as well,” Rohit told Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami during an Instagram Live session.

“From the current lot, Rabada is a good bowler, I really like Josh Hazelwood as well, he bowls with great discipline,” he added.