India, Feb. 22 -- From roaring crowds in stadiums across the world to tense World Cup battles with nail-biting finishes, few cricketers understand the theatre of international cricket quite like former South African pacer Dale Steyn. In a recent interview, held on the sidelines of the ongoing T20 World Cup, Steyn spoke to us in Colombo at an event hosted by Budweiser India. He shared his thoughts on India's unmatched cricketing passion, why modern bowlers are bowling with more intent, and how associate nations - though not full ICC members - are quietly changing the global game. Excerpts: You've played a lot of cricket in India. How has the experience been? Playing in India feels almost surreal. The passion for cricket is so intense that players are treated with the kind of adulation usually reserved for global movie stars. The stadiums, the noise, the energy; everything around the game feels larger than life. How does that love from fans impact you personally when you're touring India? It's overwhelming in the best way. India gets under your skin: the food, the people, the energy is infectious. Bringing friends or family along also adds to the experience because it helps them truly understand what it feels like. Having played alongside different eras, what stands out about the way bowlers approach the game today? Today's bowlers are focused purely on taking wickets. Back in my playing days, we were also concerned with maintaining a good economy rate. Nowadays, bowlers attack more and take risks. Games swing faster, momentum shifts more often, and there's always something happening. They don't mind going for 45 or 50 runs; if they can take a wicket, they can break the game open, slow the opposition down, and make the match more exciting to watch. Associate nations have been giving the big teams a run for their money in the T20 World Cup 2026. Did you expect that? Not at all. But they seem to be extremely good and can beat anyone. I spoke to (South African cricketer) David Miller, who played against Canada, and he said the opponent set a basic field, but he wasn't sure what he was going to bowl because he had never faced him before. With more exposure, better coaching, and fearless cricket, these teams can challenge anyone on their day. That unpredictability is what has made the ongoing World Cup so compelling....