As the second Test between India and South Africa unfolded with a flurry of 23 wickets on the chaotic first day, South African skipper Dean Elgar refrained from deeming the pitch as poor, emphasizing the challenges it presented instead. The day concluded with South Africa at 62/3, trailing by 36 runs, with Aiden Markram (36*) and David Bedingham (7*) standing firm.

In his final Test, Elgar remained undeterred despite modest scores of 4 and 12. Refusing to criticize the pitch, he acknowledged its challenging nature, emphasizing the need for batters to apply themselves mentally and be disciplined. Elgar, known for his success on diverse wickets, stressed the delicate balance between bat and ball.

Elgar shed light on the unpredictable bounce at different ends of the pitch. When Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc with a six-wicket haul at the Wynberg End, deliveries at the Calvin Grove End, exploited by Lungi Ngidi for three wickets in an over, displayed a different character. Elgar admitted confusion about the varying bounce and noted the challenges faced by batters.

Despite having played 19 first-class matches at Newlands, Elgar admitted that the mottled appearance of the pitch differed from its usual even tone. He expressed confidence before the match, believing the surface would favor batting first. However, the unexpected nature of the pitch left Elgar surprised, stating he wouldn’t have chosen it had he known its true character.

Elgar credited India for putting the ball in the right areas and highlighted the importance of South African batters by showing more application. Drawing inspiration from Virat Kohli, Aiden Markram and Rohit Sharma, Elgar emphasized the need for calculated risks and solid application in challenging conditions.

As the match unfolded, South Africa’s first innings witnessed a collapse, with Mohammed Siraj’s fiery spell decimating their top and middle order. In response, India faced its own challenges, succumbing to a Lungi Ngidi three-wicket over. Elgar, in his final Test innings, managed 12 runs as South Africa ended the day at 62/3 in their second innings. The battle between bat and ball continues in this gripping encounter.

In a farewell series that resonates with emotion, South Africa’s Dean Elgar etched his name in cricket history with a remarkable century against India on the second day of the first Test. The animated celebrations that followed were not just about reaching a century but also about the joy of finally gracing the honours board inside the Centurion home changeroom.

Elgar, a stalwart who plies his trade for the Centurion-based Northerns Titans in domestic cricket, concluded the second day unbeaten at 140 — a significant milestone as it marked his first Test century at his home ground.

His innings showcased not only brilliant composure on a challenging pitch but also a masterful display of skill in punishing loose deliveries. With 23 fours to his name, Elgar’s century unfolded over 211 deliveries before bad light interrupted play, leaving South Africa at 256 for five, leading by 11 runs in the first innings.

As Elgar approaches the end of his cricketing journey, this century holds special significance, completing a set of Test centuries at all major venues in South Africa. Reflecting on the achievement, Elgar expressed delight, saying:

“It’s a special game for me, my last international fixture here, and my family and friends are watching. I haven’t had a Test hundred at Centurion before — it’s the one that got away, so I’m very happy to be on the board.”

Addressing his teammates’ misconceptions about his Centurion record, Elgar humorously remarked,

“We spoke about it in the changeroom; some of the guys thought I had made a few centuries here, but I had to tell them I’ve been rubbish here.”

His previous highest score at the venue was 95 against Sri Lanka in 2020.

Elgar credited his success to favourable conditions and a mindset geared towards aggressive yet calculated play, especially against the intense Indian bowlers. Reflecting on the challenges posed by the moving ball, he emphasized the importance of looking to score and capitalizing on opportunities.

Earlier in the match, former opener Lokesh Rahul showcased his batting prowess in the middle-order for the visitors. Scoring a resilient 101 out of India’s total of 245, Rahul navigated the challenging conditions with 14 fours and four sixes. Speaking about his approach, Rahul highlighted the need to adapt to the situation, especially when batting with the tail.

Despite the difficulty posed by the bowler-friendly conditions, Rahul expressed his enjoyment of playing at the venue, appreciating the fast outfield that allows for scoring boundaries. As the series unfolds, these memorable performances create lasting impressions, contributing to the rich narrative of international cricket.

Former South African cricket captain, Dean Elgar, is poised to bid farewell to the cricketing world after the upcoming two-match Test series against India.

Elgar, a left-handed batsman, will play his penultimate Test at his home ground in Centurion, with his final appearance scheduled at Newlands, a venue that holds sentimental value for him as it witnessed his maiden Test run.

Expressing his sentiments, Elgar stated,

“Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine, but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate. Having had the privilege to do it for 12 years internationally is simply beyond my wildest dreams. It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have.”

“As they say, ‘all good things come to an end,’ and the Indian home series will be my last. I have made the decision to retire from our beautiful game—a game that has given me so much. The Cape Town Test will be my last, my favorite stadium in the world, where I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too.”

Debuting in Tests and ODIs in 2012, Elgar found his niche in the longest format, accumulating 5146 runs in 84 Tests, featuring 13 centuries and 23 fifties. Memorable innings include his 199 against Bangladesh in 2017 and his resilient 160 against India in Visakhapatnam in 2019.

Elgar played a pivotal role in South Africa’s 3-1 series triumph against Australia in 2018, contributing 333 runs in three matches and carrying the bat in the third Test in Cape Town with an unbeaten 141.

Awarded the captaincy of the Test side in 2021, Elgar led South Africa to a third-place finish in the ICC World Test Championship for the 2021-23 cycle, including series wins against India and West Indies at home and a drawn series in New Zealand.

Expressing gratitude, Elgar said,

“Having the opportunity to represent my country and the learnings I’ve had along my journey is something I’ll always be thankful for. It’s most definitely been the best learning experience of my life.”

Elgar extended his appreciation to Cricket South Africa, former coaches, teammates and fans, concluding with a heartfelt farewell to his current teammates, encouraging them to continue representing the nation with responsibility.

The first Test is scheduled to begin on Boxing Day at Centurion, followed by the second Test on January 3 in Cape Town.