Follow UsDean Elgar’s career has been quite puzzling. For the ones who remember it well, the 36-year-old got off to the worst possible start, with a pair on Test debut against Australia. But since then, the left-hander has gone on to establish himself as one of the grittiest batters that this generation has seen.
In the toughest South African conditions, which usually have been tilted towards the bowling unit, Elgar has stood like a rock, with 3479 runs, averaging a high 47.01, with nine 100s and 17 half-centuries. While he was a one-man army in South Africa’s win in the Boxing Day Test against India, his last Test didn’t quite end as he hoped.
“I would have liked to do more in this game. Still very proud of my performance I had in Centurion. Nice to contribute to a winning cause. Some really tough conditions throughout. It (3-Test series) would have been fantastic,” Elgar said in the post-match presentation.
Elgar’s record against India too, has stood the test of time, with 1012 runs against the Men in Blue, averaging 40.48, including two hundreds and three half-centuries. Back in 2018, Elgar hit an outstanding 86* before following it up with a scintillating 160 in Vishakapatnam.
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The left-hander was also single-handedly responsible for India not being able to win a Test series in South Africa in 2022 and 2024, where his unbeaten 96* and 185 led the Proteas to memorable wins. In the aftermath of the series, his final one, Elgar jokingly stated that he was glad not to face the Indian team.
“You want to challenge yourself, Bumrah is world-class, he deserves this award. You want to push yourself to the limits. Glad that I don't have to face these guys again. Fond memories. We've come a long way. Very grateful to play against these guys,” Elgar said.
“A lot of good memories, I received it (green cap) in 2012, I have missed only one series. It's got a special place. Only leaves for duty, that's done and dusted.”
However, on the loss here in Cape Town, Elgar insisted that the conditions were a bit of a ripper, which deceived the hosts.
“It was a bit of a ripper (The pitch). Naked eye, it looked like it's going to be a nice one. It played totally different to what everyone thought. We were on the receiving end, big learning curve for us. If you ask Rohit, he'd have batted first. They just out-skilled us in that first session,”
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Ahead of this Test, Elgar insisted that he would want to play the clash like it was a World Cup final, and it was Aiden Markram who stepped up big time with the bat for the Proteas, scoring 106 off just 103 balls. Rightfully, Elgar defined the knock as ‘something out of the world’.
“2-0 would have been really nice, still managed 1-1, proud of the boys. The way the bowlers bowled in the series and the way Aiden batted in the second innings is something out of the world.”