Dean Elgar, the opening batsman for South Africa and interim captain, who is playing his farewell test match, is hoping to end his career with a whitewash over the visiting Indian team. The second test between the two teams is scheduled to begin on January 3 at Newlands, Cape Town.
Temba Bavuma, who got injured while fielding in the first match and sustained a hamstring injury, Dean Elgar will have the honor of captaining the Proteas in his farewell test match. So, he will be looking to end his career by winning this series 2-0.
In the first match of the series in Centurion, the seasoned opening batsman scored an incredible 185 runs to lead South Africa to victory by an innings and 32 runs. Dean Elgar’s retirement was announced, and he was left out of the South African team for their next series against New Zealand.
The 14-man team, which includes captain Neil Brand and seven other uncapped players, has received criticism from many experts and shocked people all over the world. To compete in the SA20 League, all of the first-choice players have been exempted from their international duties.
Drawing the series is not something we are thinking about at all- Dean Elgar
The next Test against India becomes extremely important in terms of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings because it is a second-string squad to play against New Zealand. Despite having only played one game thus far, the Proteas are presently leading the points table.
Dean Elgar explained the importance of this series win by further saying that test series wins are the ones that are at the top in cricket; maybe a World Cup win is up there. He added that he has never had that opportunity, but this is my World Cup.
“I only play the game to win. I don’t care about stats. I care about wins. I care about series wins. That’s the greatest memories you can ever share with your team, everyone that has got an influential role in the background. Test series wins – you don’t top that. Maybe a World Cup win is up there. I have never had that opportunity but this is my World Cup. This is my arena where I want to win,” Dean Elgar told on the eve of his final Test.
Dean Elgar went on saying that they are in a fortunate position and from here on they can’t lose the series, drawing is maybe as big as a loss for Proteas. In Cape Town, South Africa has a strong record against India. They have won four and drawn two of their six games at the venue over the Men in Blue. They have yet to lose one.
“We are in a fortunate position knowing that we can’t lose the series but drawing is maybe as big as a loss for us. It’s a massive Test for us, being our highlighted Test of the year. The New Year’s Test at Newlands, they don’t get much bigger and better, against really tough opposition,” he stated.
Playing the New Year’s Test is big for guys and they are going to have a lot of firsts so we want them to just live in that moment but be mindful of the opportunity of winning two-nil. Drawing the series is not something we are thinking about at all,” he elaborated.
There’s no bigger honor than to captain your country- Dean Elgar
With a lopsided match in Centurion, South Africa shattered Team India’s hopes of winning a series in South Africa. With another victory to take the series 2-0, the Proteas, who were the superior team in every department, might hurt India’s prospects of qualifying for the WTC final.
“There’s no bigger honor than to captain your country irrespective of who you are playing against but being against India adds more flavor. India is the powerhouse nation in the world and we are in a situation where I can influence and try to get a 2-nil win,” said Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar has been an obstacle in India’s side for a long time; his most recent 185-run innings serve as sufficient proof. In an effort to build on his already stellar record against them, the tenacious left-handed batter will be looking to cause trouble for the opponents one last time. In 26 innings against India, he has amassed 996 runs at an average of 43.30.