The second Test between India and South Africa was an intense match at Newlands in Cape Town. With their first Test series defeat, India’s hopes of winning a Test series on home ground in South Africa were dashed. But the game took on extra meaning because it was the final Test match for legendary South African batsman Dean Elgar.
At the heartfelt event, Indian batting greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma gave signed jerseys to Dean Elgar as a symbol of respect and appreciation for the departed legend.
ತಮ್ಮ ಕೊನೆ ಟೆಸ್ಟ್ ಪಂದ್ಯ ಆಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಡೀನ್ ಎಲ್ಗರ್ಗೆ ಜರ್ಸಿ ಗಿಫ್ಟ್ ನೀಡಿದ ರೋಹಿ – ರಾಟ್ ಜೋಡಿ ❤#SAvIND #StarSportsKannada #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/tL8etsB5GG
— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) January 4, 2024
In his last Test inning, Dean Elgar led the Proteas in Temba Bavuma’s absence and scored 12 runs. His four-run first-inning knock was a small contribution to an otherwise poor showing for the hosts, who collapsed for just fifty-five runs. Dean Elgar, a player renowned for his outstanding accomplishments in the game of cricket, had an amazing career that came to an end with these short innings.
The previous series, at Centurion, had seen the former captain of South Africa make a lasting impression when he smashed a century with 185 runs off 287 deliveries. This incredible hit became his highest score in a Test match against India, beating his previous best of 160 in Vizag in 2019. Only his 199 against Bangladesh in 2017 was higher than his innings of 185, which remained the second-highest score of his Test career.
As Dean Elgar leaps, he discovers his name inscribed in record books.
With 5,347 runs at an outstanding average of 37.92 from 86 Tests, the Proteas opener finished as South Africa’s eighth-highest run scorer in Test cricket as he waved farewell to the Test arena. His brilliant career included 14 centuries and 23 fifties, making him a member of the elite group of batters.
In addition, during the second Test in Cape Town, the seasoned player became the third player from the Proteas, after Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, to reach 1,000 Test runs against India. Dean Elgar finished with 1,012 runs from 15 Test matches against India, an average of 40.48, and six fifty-plus scores, including two hundreds.