Reports: Dale Steyn likely to join Sunrisers Hyderabad as bowling coach

Former South Africa quick Dale Steyn is likely to join the backroom staff of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), it is learnt.

The Sunrisers have vacant spots to fill in the setup as head coach Trevor Bayliss and batting coach Brad Haddin stepped down following a forgettable 2021 season for the team when they finished at the bottom of the tally to break their unbeaten playoff qualification streak running since 2016. The franchise will also not have their mentor VVS Laxman at the helm, as he has taken the mantle of heading the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Meanwhile, Steyn, a veteran of 95 IPL matches and 97 wickets, has been a part of the league since its inaugural year, having represented Deccan Chargers and Gujarat Lions before Royal Challengers Bangalore. He announced retirement from all cricket earlier this year, after wearing a South African shirt 292 times. Steyn picked 439 wickets in 93 Tests at an average of 22.95, while he had 196 and 64 wickets in 125 ODIs and 47 T20Is respectively.

It is understood that the negotiations between the franchise and him are on, and an official announcement regarding his appointment – barring an eleventh-hour mess – is imminent. Steyn has not commented anything on the matter yet, while attempts to reach out to him in this regard did not materialise. Also likely to join the SRH staff is former India and Tamil Nadu all-rounder Hemang Badani, who represented India in four Tests and 40 ODIs between 2000 to 2004.

As for Bayliss, he is likely to join the Sanjiv Goenka RPS Group-owned Lucknow franchise. Bayliss had taken the SRH role after England won the ODI World Cup in 2019. SRH qualified for the IPL playoffs every season under him, 2021 being the only exception.

The upcoming edition of the league is set to have ten teams as two new franchises – Lucknow and Ahmedabad – have been added to the existing eight. The edition will be preceded by a mega auction, likely to be held in late December or early January. Ahead of the same, the Sunrisers have retained only three players, skipper Kane Williamson and uncapped Jammu Kashmir talents, Abdul Samad and Umran Malik.