How I felt hitting Dale Steyn through covers: DNA journalist recalls

While growing up I dreamt of donning the blues for India one day and knock out some of the best bowlers in the business. I always saw myself doing what a Brian Lara or a Sachin Tendulkar did to a Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar or Shane Bond.

The dream remains a dream to this day and I ended up in journalism, living my passion for cricket through writing. Yes, I still play cricket at club level.

Cut to July 26, 2018, I was assigned a press meet to be attended by one of the world’s fastest bowlers Dale Steyn, who had just returned from a two-year break thanks to a shoulder injury.

The agenda was to quiz Steyn on India’s tour of England, his comeback and other important issues.

As I made my entry to the venue – Smaaash, a gaming center in Mumbai that's equipped with cricket nets, Steyn, who was attending a GoPro event, was in a cheerful mood, laughing around with everyone.

So, when the organisers announced that Steyn will have a fun net session, as part of the promotional activities, where he will bowl to whoever wants to bat, my eyes lit up. The images of me thrashing the fastest bowlers in the business started flashing in front of my eyes.

As the South African pacer entered the nets, the heart began to beat faster. I tried to remain calm, not showing my excitement and let another guy take him on first.

He bowled leg spins and off spins, not pace. May be he didn't want to scare people out. I somehow felt he would not be lenient to me. And he would at least bowl seam-up.

Four balls up, I politely asked the batsman to move on and let me bat. The batsman gave me a stare that said ‘I am not done yet’. I chose to ignore him and took my stance.

The GoPro technicians adjusted the camera according to my lefty batting stance.

I was all set to bat and impress Steyn, and force him to think how India missed out on a gem or someone who could succeed the greatest southpaw – Lara.

“Should I bowl pace or spin,” he asked. I said: “Pace.” The first ball he bowled was over pitched and I hit it through covers. He was smiling and appreciating. The second was to try and fool me by faking a delivery as the ball came out of his hand before the action was completed. It fell short and I pulled it ball with ease. I have used this trick many a times with my juniors.

Steyn was impressed. “Should I bowl faster?” he asked. I said: "Yes, I would love to play your real pace. Bowl however you want to but not a bouncer otherwise it will knock down my glasses.” Steyn laughed. Obviously, it was not a leather ball, but a softer one thus I could dare to ask him to bowl his original pace.

But then he wouldn’t want to risk injuries. He increased his pace a bit, but at a friendly rate. The third ball was driven again, followed by a attempted yorker hit straight back. Then a few full length deliveries.

Next up, he produced a Jaffa of a delivery that left me spellbound. I expressed my appreciation for it to him. A few drives and pulls had made me a bit arrogant, as if I am dominating him.

Then he bowled a ball which pitched outside the off, perhaps a trap, but I left it with ease (thanks to the monsoon cricket Kanga League experience). “I would get out there (aiming it to the slips),” said Steyn.

He bowled a few more and I drove and pulled with ease, before it all ended and I went up to him to express my gratitude. I would've liked to bat more, but the time was up. Steyn seemed somewhat impressed by my batting.

I may have realised my dream of smashing the fastest bowler in the world, but for him it was all fun and nothing serious. Otherwise, I would have been knocked down even with that soft ball if the man bowled at his original pace.

Thanks for the memories, Steyn.