South African bowling legend Dale Steyn inadvertently kicked up a social media storm after he said that he found playing in leagues like Pakistan Super League ‘more rewarding’ as a player compared to the Indian Premier League. Steyn explained that there was too much “focus” on money in the IPL and ‘cricket gets forgotten’, while the game remained the central focus in other leagues. Speaking to Cricket Pakistan, Steyn explained his decision to stay away from IPL 2021:
“I wanted some time off. I found that playing in these other leagues was slightly more rewarding as a player. I think when you go to IPL, there are such big squads and so many big names and so much emphasis on maybe the amount of money players earn and everything like that, so sometimes, somewhere down the line, cricket gets forgotten,” said Steyn.
Steyn’s opinion, however, divided fans online. While some backed the pacer for being brutally honest about IPL, many others were left furious by his statement that caused an uproar on the internet.
"Playing in PSL more rewarding, money is main topic in IPL and Cricket is forgotten": Dale Steyn pic.twitter.com/wZiNvVJmps— Nishant Sharma (@srcsmic_enginer) March 3, 2021
Dale steyn writing PSL is more rewarding than IPL after getting thrashed by KL Rahul in IPL pic.twitter.com/qUCBoxkGsN— Your Santa (@Praths__09) March 3, 2021
Man could've praised PSL without bringing down IPL. Needless from Steyn. https://t.co/NHTfR77ETw— Pushkar ⚽️ (@pushkar2707) March 2, 2021
The reason why Dale Steyn @DaleSteyn62 left IPL & that's why he is praising PSL after playing 12 seasons of IPL.What's Your Thought?? @sports_tak @vikrantgupta73 @rashikarajput01 @manoj_dimri @rawatrahul9 #asksportstak pic.twitter.com/GINVygJIP6— Kushal Kumar (@sahkushalkr) March 2, 2021
Common knowledge ( In ipl)"Accept it or die"💥Siraj gun💥#DaleSteyn #siraj Dale steyn pic.twitter.com/2cjPRNGF5Q— Sarcastic not Toxic (@goatviraat18) March 2, 2021
Dale Steyn's total earning:From IPL – 47 CroreFrom PSL – 36 LakhCONNECT THE DOTS 😂😂😂
— 👽 (@activeakki) March 2, 2021
Fans from the neighbouring country Pakistan (including Indians), on the other hand, found the perfect opportunity to take digs at IPL while praising the South African cricketer.
Well said LEGEND PSL is about creating opportunities for Pakistani youth where as IPL is only about $$#DaleSteyn #HBLPSL #Cricket #IUvQG pic.twitter.com/IDtFbkjLro
— WaQas (@IMwaqaskhann) March 2, 2021
After the statement that Dale Steyn didIndians Reaction :#DaleSteyn #IUvQG #IPL pic.twitter.com/q5Hw8XmqCb— Ameer Haider ❤ (@ameerhaider09) March 2, 2021
Indian T20 cricket fan baaayz judging Dale Steyn's career by his IPL stats, mfs have a look at his test records. Bowling bhool jaaoge #DaleSteyn— ZahirAbbas (@thexahir) March 2, 2021
LOLThose few words gonna Penetrate through the Thin Skins of Indians so badly.— Umair Ahmad Ghumman (L.Q). (@UmairAhmad0123) March 2, 2021
#DaleSteyn told what he saw n feel and any other how respect the crickets money can't buy ….:) https://t.co/oKbzAN5wkO— Adeel Khan (@AdeelKh49392251) March 2, 2021
Hey @imVkohli this is just b/c of that #Ipl is only #dhanda & ganda… https://t.co/KmmZd1sF6J— TheMngoM@n (@yasirzafar78) March 2, 2021
Burnol cream for IPL… Cream that treats BURNS… https://t.co/CPu3C9zZte— Sami Khan (@abdussami_k) March 2, 2021
Legend Speaks.#PSL2021 https://t.co/uOci5a4PK3— UsmaN (@Osman_Here) March 2, 2021
Playing in PSL & LPL is more rewarding than IPL – Dale SteynLe Indian:#IUvQG #PSL6 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/XIfKAqYPpA— Memes By Zayn (@MemesByZayn) March 2, 2021
Dale Steyn: "I've been here for couple of days and players are coming in and out to know about the Cricket, while in IPL it's just about for how much money you went this year.That's what matters to me".IPL : Indian pesa league #FascistNaziIndia pic.twitter.com/9xFuPoadDN— Nadeem Khan 🇵🇰 (@unimoni_UCP) March 2, 2021
Meanwhile, ahead of the fourth Test between India and England in Ahmedabad, Ajinkya Rahane was asked his views on Dale Steyn’s comments that the Pakistan Super League was more rewarding as a player than the Indian Premier League.
Here’s how Rahane responded:
“IPL gave the platform to express ourselves, to a lot of Indians and overseas players. I don’t know what Dale Steyn said, but we’re here to talk about the Test match,” said Ajinkya Rahane.