Shoulder injury rules Steyn out of IPL 2017

Steyn rules himself out of IPL 2017 

New Delhi: South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn will not take part in next year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to an injury.

Steyn, who represented Gujarat Lions in the last edition of IPL has vouched a return to International cricket by June next year, effectively ruling himself out of IPL which starts from April 5 next year.

"June is realistic for South Africa," Steyn, who is currently recovering from an elbow injury," was quoted as saying by Sport24. "I haven't had a long break like this in a good few years and every season I go into it with something wrong, whether it be a little hammie or whatever."

Steyn fractured his shoulder while bowling in the first Australia-South Africa Test at Perth and has been out of action since then. 

"It will be nice to go into a season, starting in June, and confidently know that I am really strong and in a good place," he added.

The fast bowler has been struggling with his shoulder for quite some time now. Steyn had suffered a fracture in his right shoulder in the Boxing Day Test match against England last year.  

The 33-year-old has also not been included in the 13-men squad for the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.