RCB team director Mike Hesson has opined that veterans AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn still have a lot to offer to the team despite their lack of involvement in top-level international cricket. AB de Villiers retired from international cricket back in 2018 and has been playing in domestic twenty-twenty leagues since. He was also a part of recently conducted T20 series in South Africa, which his team won.
The IPL 2020 will begin from September 19 till November 10, a total 53-day campaign will see all the 8 teams play in UAE. The tournament was originally scheduled to kick off from March 29 was postponed indefinitely after April 15 due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the nation.
They still have a lot to give: Mike Hesson on AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn
Former New Zealand head coach, Mike Hesson believes de Villiers and Steyn will be an important part of the RCB team. He told de Villers has recently participated in a T20 tournament and is fit and refreshed.
“Only a matter of weeks ago he took part in a match in South Africa and once again he was a standout player, having just come out of his living room. So that certainly showed the quality of player he is,” Hesson told a virtual media conference from Dubai on Wednesday.
“He’s had very, very good franchise tournaments around the world the last 12 months and he’s in good touch. Physically, he’s feeling good and refreshed. And once again, he’s one of the few in the group that are absolutely chomping at the bit to get into training,”said Mike Hesson.
Dale Steyn has been developing his game: Mike Hesson
Hesson says 37-year-old Dale Steyn has developed his game and is showing some unique deliveries that he has developed in the past six months. He believes Steyn is still far from retirement.
“He’s developing his game. We saw some different deliveries that he’s been able to develop over the last six months. So he’s certainly not ready to retire yet, certainly very keen to make a contribution this IPL,”he added.
RCB have never won the IPL, however, they have reached the final thrice, under three different captains but the IPL title has never got in their hands. The IPL 2020 will begin from September 19 till November 10, a total 53-day campaign will see all the eight teams play in UAE. The venue this time is UAE and matches will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.