Dane Van Niekerk, who’s presently enjoying for Royal Challengers Bangalore within the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), had already hinted at retirement in a cryptic tweet a number of days in the past. However, it was her spouse and South African teammate Marizanne Kapp (additionally enjoying within the WPL for Delhi Capitals), who formally introduced her retirement, submit her staff’s match towards Gujarat Giants.
Dane’s retirement comes after her snub from the nationwide staff for the 2023 T20 World Cup, one thing which had raised loads of eyebrows. The 29-year-old former SA captain, whose profession spanned 14 years, faulted by 18 seconds in her health check, thus ruling her out of the premier match that was held in her house nation in February.
Her expertise will definitely be missed. She has a stupendous report of 1877 runs and 65 wickets in T20Is total, between 2009-2021. In the ODIs, then again, she turned the third girl cricketer to attain 1000 runs, decide 50 wickets and have 50 catches to her title.
Sportstar caught up along with her in Mumbai within the run-up to the WPL, chatting with her about all the things that went down along with her snub and the way she got here to phrases with it.
“Honestly, I am probably still struggling with it, just to come to terms with how successful the World Cup was, and I really wanted to be part of the team. I’m very happy for them making the final since the country needed that, especially at a World Cup, and, you know, they carried themselves well and they did the country and themselves justice.”
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow. I gave everything I could, I couldn’t have given more. I’m open and honest about those 18 seconds. I never asked for any exemptions, I never asked them to pick me and break the rules, but I truly believe that I was the fittest Dane that they’ve had in many years. But rules are rules and I, as the captain, will always adhere to it,” stated Dane.
Dane’s sudden exclusion from the World Cup additionally prompted tumultuous occasions for her and Marizanne. But the pair tried to rise above the noise. “Oh, it was obviously tough at the time. When you go through a bad space you get angry at the people you love the most because you feel like the victim and like the world is against you. And, so yeah, there were some tough conversations.”
“You know, Marizanne has made it very public about how she supports me. So, it’s been just as hard on her as it has been on me. And for her to do so well at the World Cup despite all of this going on is testament to her character and the person she is. But it‘s good to have somebody that supports you and understands you in a way that no one else really can,” stated Dane.
Many touted the WPL as a platform of redemption for Dane. But, for her, the match is extra about discovering herself as a participant once more. “It’s about finding the Dane that I might have lost along the way through all the trials,” she stated.
“Firstly, I never thought I’ll be here. So, now, it’s just about finding my edge as a cricketer and my competitive self again. It’s easy to lose it if you haven’t been in it for long. You know you can bowl as many balls as you want in the nets but playing in front of thousands of people in a stadium is different. So, for me, it’s not about redemption or proving a point. It’s more about finding the joy for cricket again,” says the 29-year-old, whereas reflecting on her journey.
While she is but to play a match for RCB, she has hope. “(I intend to) find my way back into competitive cricket, set personal goals and just make the most of it. So that, you know, when I leave the WPL, even if I have played just one game, I will be in a better space, both physically and mentally.” In the top, for Dane, enjoying the WPL is nearly, “working with elite people, who are ready to support me and value me as a cricketer again.”
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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