India vs SA: Dale Steyn looks doubtful again, Merchant De Lange has extended session

Steyn was seen walking around in normal training shoes.

New Delhi: When South African team entered the Feroz Shah Kotla arena today, all eyes were on Dale Steyn but the pace spearhead skipped the net session, indicating that he has still not recovered from the groin injury he had sustained during the first Test against India in Mohali.

Kyle Abbott and Steyn's cover Merchant De Lange had an extended session at the nets ahead of the fourth and final Test.

Steyn, for the better part, was seated and did not take part in any training. In fact, he did not even wear the bowling spikes and was seen walking around in normal training shoes. It was learnt that he has undergone one round of fitness test today but the result was not known.

Steyn spent a lot of time with talented Delhi all-rounder Sarang Rawat, who made his first-class debut this season.

Sarang was one of the net bowlers.

"He gave me a lot of tips about wrist positioning and how I could improve my speed by strengthening the lower body. It was like a dream speaking to him," the 21-year-old Sarang told PTI.

As has been the case with Steyn's fitness update, the South African assistant coach Adrian Birrell also did not shed any light on the fast bowler's availability.

"He is still nursing a little bit of groin injury. You know with fast bowlers, groin takes a little more time to get right. We need him a hundred percent before we play him in a Test match. He will undergo another round of fitness Test tomorrow to make sure whether he is hundred percent before a decision is made," Birrell said.