'Not having Dale in the team is a setback'

'Not having the best bowler in the world is never a nice thing.'

'It is not the name that we play, it is a cricket ball that we face.'

Harish Kotian/Rediff.com listens to Amla and Kohli in Nagpur.

The last time South Africa played in Nagpur, in February 2010, Dale Steyn carried the visitors to victory with a seven-wicket haul.

The fast bowler won't get a chance to repeat his magic as a groin injury has ruled him out for the third Test against India, starting on Wednesday.

Marchant de Lange has been called up to replace Steyn who picked up the injury during the second day of the first Test in Mohali.

"Dale Steyn won't probably play in this Test match. I don't think his injury has recovered fully," South African Captain Hashim Amla said in Nagpur on the eve of the match.

Five years ago, Steyn's magical spell in the first innings of the Nagpur Test -- he took 7/71 -- helped South Africa crush India by an innings and six wickets.

The wicket was dry, but Steyn used reverse swing to good effect as India collapsed from 221/4 to 233 all out, losing the last six wickets for 12 runs with Steyn claiming five of them.

"Not having Dale in the team is a setback," Amla said, "because not having the best bowler in the world is never a nice thing. But we have got to deal with it. We have got some good reserves. Hopefully, the guys who play will get a chance to stand out."

India Skipper Virat Kohli felt Steyn's absence in Nagpur is irrelevant.

"We have played him enough times, we have scored enough runs against him. It does not make if he is playing or not. We treat every bowler the same way," Kohli declared.

His batsmen, the captain said, look at the ball coming out of the bowler's hand and not the bowler.

"We treat everyone equally. Eventually, it's a cricket ball coming out of anyone's hand. It is not the name that we play, it is a cricket ball that we face and you got to back your ability to tackle whatever thrown."