Why Dale Steyn can't get a game

David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad were impressive in registering their opening win of the Indian Premier League on Monday night, but one of the biggest talking points was the continued non-selection of South African quick Dale Steyn.

Steyn was left out for the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, as he was for Hyderabad’s opener against the Chennai Super Kings, something unbecoming for a bowler of his pedigree.

The Proteas quick is the No.1 ranked Test bowler in the world, 79 ratings points ahead of Australian Ryan Harris in second place. To give some perspective of just how far ahead Steyn is of the chasing pack, the difference between Harris and the 10th-ranked Tim Southee is just 83 points. 

Watch: Warner guides Hyderabad home against Bangalore

While he's leading the way in Test cricket, in recent times, Steyn hasn’t been able to translate his Test bowling form into the limited overs format.

He's conceded around 6.5 runs an over in his Twenty20 career overall, but went at 7.69 an over at the 2014 IPL, taking 11 wickets at just under 40.

Relying on hitting a good length and trying to move the ball at pace, a method that has been so profitable for him in the red-ball game, has worked against him in the shorter formats.

And at the 2015 World Cup, Steyn finished with 11 wickets from eight games at 31 with an economy of more than five, including 1-76 from 8.5 overs in their semi-final loss to New Zealand, when he conceded 12 runs in his final over.

Fellow Sunrisers quick Trent Boult, on the other hand, was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2015 World Cup and, as a result, has got the nod for the first two matches of the tournament ahead of his more credentialed teammate.

"Trent Boult was the best bowler behind Mitchell Starc in the World Cup," Warner said.

"The conditions suited him here (in Bangalore) and suited him in the last game. We just feel Trent is just ahead of Dale.

"We will definitely use Dale in the tournament ... at the moment Trent is going fantastic so Dale just misses out." 

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Boult's sterling World Cup form has him ahead of Steyn for the Sunrisers // Getty Images

So why can’t Hyderabad play both Boult and Steyn in their line-up? That’s where the IPL rules allowing just four overseas players in each side, and the balance of their squad, comes into play.

With Warner bound to be one of the four internationals in the XI, the likes of Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Moises Henriques, Kane Williamson, Boult and Steyn are fighting for the remaining three spots.

In-form Kiwi Williamson is an obvious selection in the middle-order and Bopara has edged out Morgan out for the finishers’ spot in the first two matches, meaning it's been a straight shootout between Boult and Steyn to be the fourth international in the XI.

For both Boult and Steyn to be picked in the same side, management will need to drop one of Williamson or Bopara and bring in an Indian batsman as an replacement.

Essentially, the Sunrisers need to decide between playing an extra Indian batsman or an extra Indian speedster and for now, it’s no surprise why they're opting for the latter.

The local pace bowling department consists of Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Reddy and Siddarth Kaul, three of whom have been or are regulars at international cricket level. 

Watch: Warner mimics Ponting with classic catch

In constrast, Shikhar Dhawan is the only Indian batsman of international T20 quality in the squad, with the likes of Naman Ojha and KL Rahul - who are already a part of the Hyderabad XI - without much experience at the highest level.

With not much strength in their Indian batting reserves, the Sunrisers have decided to bolster their batting with overseas players and allow the Indians to take up the bowling roles.

The good news for Warner and Hyderabad is Steyn is at full fitness, with the 31-year-old saying he still has plenty of good cricket left in him.

"I think I am still one of the fittest players in the South African side, fitter than guys who are 21-22," he told Times of India.

"I will play until I can't play anymore. I don't think age matters. In cricket, if you have the skill, you can go on playing."

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad

David Warner, Ashish Reddy, Shikhar Dhawan, Chama Milind, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Dale Steyn, KL Rahul, Karn Sharma, Naman Ojha, Moises Henriques, Ricky Bhui, Parveez Rasool, Kevin Pietersen (playoffs only), Kane Williamson, Eoin Morgan, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Ravi Bopara, Trent Boult, Praveen Kumar, Prasanth Padmanabhan, Hanuma Vihari, Siddarth Kaul