Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have roped in South African speedster Dale Steyn as the replacement for Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, who has pulled out of the remainder of the IPL 2019 due to a back niggle.
Steyn went unsold at the auction but will now be available to play an IPL game after a two-year gap. He last played in the league for Gujarat Lions in the IPL 2016.
The 35-year-old was snapped up by the Bangalore franchise ahead of the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 and stayed with them until 2010, taking 27 wickets from 28 games. He will now be tasked with reviving the fortunes of the side whose chances of making the playoffs is fading quickly, as they have lost each of their first six games in the season.
RCB will now compete with Kings XI Punjab on April 13.
Long time, no see. Welcome back. 😎 #playBold pic.twitter.com/QOmXUi9CoM
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 12, 2019
Meanwhile, Coulter-Nile’s absence is a big blow to the franchise as the tall pacer is too good while bowling in the death overs. The Aussie pacer missed the entire season of the IPL 2018 due to injury and missed the start of this season’s campaign because of national-team commitments.
