CAPETOWN, Jan 4
Describing South Africa’s stand-in skipper Dean Elgar as “very gritty”, Rohit Sharma praised him for a brilliant career, before gifting him a signed Indian jersey as the southpaw signed off from Test cricket at the end of the second Test in Cape Town that India won by seven wickets to level the series 1-1. “Such an important player for SA, Very, very gritty and his wicket – we spoke about how we want to get him out quickly. We appreciate what he has done for South Africa. Brilliant career – best wishes ahead,” Rohit would say after the game when asked about Elgar. The 36-year-old had a brilliant Test career scoring 5331 runs at an average of 38.08 from 85 appearances. He scored 14 tons, with the highest score of 199 runs against Bangladesh.
In his farewell series, Elgar impressed with the bat in the first match of the series at Centurion when he was made the side’s captain in the middle of the game due to an injury to captain Temba Bavuma on day one. The gritty left-hander did not buckle down. Once again, throughout his career, he has shown he gets better when put under pressure. Playing his final Test at his home ground, Elgar scored a sublime 185 at Centurion which effectively sealed the game in South Africa’s favour. He was tactically sound on the field with his bowling changes and field placements that resulted in a victory for the home side by an innings and 32 runs. At the end of the series, Elgar was jointly awarded the Player of the series along with India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who also showed a bigger heart by asking him to take the trophy as it was his final Test. “I would have liked to do more in this game. Still very proud of my performance in Centurion and finally on the board in the hundred club there.
But pretty difficult batting conditions… It would’ve been brilliant. You want to challenge yourself against the best in the world. Bumrah is a world-class bowler and he deserves the Man of the Series. Glad I don’t have to face these guys again (laughs). Bit of a journey and amazing memories with the baggy green, so special…,” said Elgar before signing off from Test cricket, and marking the end of an era in South African cricket.
