Dale Steyn Claps Back at Criticism Over India Bias During T20 World Cup

Dale Steyn Responds to Allegations of Bias

Former South African cricketer Dale Steyn has hit back at a social media user who accused him of displaying favoritism against India amid the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.

The fan claimed that Steyn's posts exuded "negative vibes" towards the Indian cricket team. In a direct response on X, Steyn challenged the accusation, asking, "Really? Show me one example." This exchange followed India's victory over the USA by 29 runs in their first match of the tournament.

Match Performance and Predictions

Interestingly, prior to the match, Steyn had predicted that India would be the first team to score 300 runs in a T20 World Cup. However, India ended up with a total of 161/9, falling short of his forecast. The USA managed to score 132/8, leading to a combined total of 297 runs in the match. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a crucial role in India's innings, scoring an impressive 84 runs off 49 balls.

The Nature of Online Criticism

This incident underscores the reality that cricketers frequently encounter criticism on social media, where fans often provoke responses. Steyn's candid reply garnered attention, particularly in light of his earlier endorsement of India's batting capabilities.

Praise for Young Talent

In addition to addressing the controversy, Steyn also praised Rajasthan Royals' young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 14-year-old cricketer scored an astounding 175 runs off 80 balls in the U19 World Cup final against England, leading India to victory.

On X, Steyn remarked, "Everyone’s tweeting about him, I may as well too… This kid, wonder boy, he’s gonna win an IPL before he finishes school."