Steyn: We've rattled India

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Cricket365
December 7, 2013

Proteas paceman Dale Steyn reckons India's crushing 141-run defeat in the first one-day international at the Wanderers on Thursday may have gotten under their skin.

<b>Proteas paceman Dale Steyn reckons India's crushing 141-run defeat in the first one-day international at the Wanderers on Thursday may have gotten under their skin.</b>

The visitors took a beating in more ways than one in that heavy loss, and the South African is sure it has given India a lot to think about.

Asked if he thought India's batsman may be frightened now, Steyn said: "I definitely think so.

"I don't see many of our guys walking off the field with bloody fingers or ice-packs on the ribs or stuff like that.

"It definitely was a wake-up call for the Indians. It's not Mumbai where the ball doesn't get higher than the stumps, so it's going to be hard to play here."

India need to provide in several key areas ahead of Sunday's second game in Durban, but don't ask Steyn what they are.

"I'm not going to give them any advice, that's for sure," he said.

"I think, with the ball, they really lack somebody that can get pace up there. They have the one guy (Mohammed Shami) who can bowl quickly, but then they have Ishant (Sharma) sitting on the side. He's the one guy who can bowl over 140 kilometres (per hour).

"And then we have some really good batters, so you need guys that can spin the ball a mile, or that can bowl really quickly.

"The Wanderers didn't offer the turn that their guys could have used, but it did offer something off the deck, and they didn't have that. We used it very well and if you don't have that, you're going to struggle in South Africa."

Despite the tough talk, Steyn is well aware that India are the top-ranked ODI side in the world, and that the slower Durban track should suit the opposition better than the one in Johannesburg.

"The conditions are always a little bit different here in Durban compared to Johannesburg, there's always a little bit more bounce in Johannesburg and this wicket seems to have gotten a little bit slower and flatter over the years," he said.

Top India batsman Virat Kohli, meanwhile, dismissed any talk of there being any fear amongst his team.

"I don't think anyone in this Indian team is frightened of anything, regardless of the loss the other day," he said.

"You didn't see anyone closing their eyes to bouncers or anyone getting out just throwing their bat around.

"We should be good enough to tackle the pace and come up with the goods, and I think we will see a much-improved performance from the batters and bowlers tomorrow."