Dean Elgar, the South Africa Test skipper has revealed that he had a chat with pacer Kagiso Rabada after the opening day of the ongoing Test series against India, and how that changed the Proteas’ bowler’s attitude.
Dean Elgar’s remarks came after India stumbled to a seven-wicket loss in the second Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, Johannesburg on Thursday. Kagiso Rabada scalped six wickets, three in each innings, to play a pivotal role in South Africa’s series-leveling seven-wicket win in the second Test on Thursday.
Dean Elgar: Kagiso Rabada Responded Well After Having A Good Chat
Kagiso Rabada is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series, with 13 scalps. The Proteas star bowler finished with figures of 3 for 77 in the second innings of the 2nd Test but the partnership he broke was the most important.
“I went up to KG (Kagiso Rabada) and I said to him, you are an immensely respected cricketer within our group and at the moment I don’t think you are conducting yourself extremely well.
“I know what KG is capable of. When KG’s got his tail up, there’s no better bowler than him and I have experienced quite a few guys who have been part of this team,” said Dean Elgar during a virtual press conference after the second Test against India came to an end.
“It was a good chat. I can have those chats with KG and he responds extremely well. He takes it away, he lets it process and thinks about it overnight and then he comes back the next day with a scenario for me. He can sometimes be a little bit too relaxed and he needs to understand that his performance on the field and his performance in the change-room is huge,” he added.
Kagiso Rabada accounted for the downfall of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara at a time when India was cruising with a 111-run partnership. The 26-year old’s dream spell had changed the course of the game and had created faith for the batters to chase down a score of 240 in the fourth innings.
Dean Elgar, Who Played A Captain’s Knock Of 96*, Felt Awesome To See Kagiso Rabada Fire
Dean Elgar played a captain’s knock scoring an unbeaten 96 to take the hosts to a 7-wicket win levelling the 3-match series 1-1 against India. Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma comfortably took South Africa home with the captain fittingly scoring the winning runs as the hosts levelled the 3-match Test series 1-1.
“KG – that spell he bowled, broke the game open for us. There was a bit of a spark in the dressing room, maybe it was what was needed in order to get him into that space. and we know when KG is like that it’s difficult to get the ball away from him but also you want him on your side rather than the opposition team.
“There were fair words that were said and I think he’s taken it on board and we’re hoping we can get him into that sweet spot again for the next Test because it can only bode well for us,” said Dean Elgar.
“KG has got that attitude, and he’s got the want and he wants to bowl and he wants to contribute in a massive way. I mean, you have to utilize that as a captain. So it was awesome to see him fire,” he added.
Dean Elgar played a captain’s knock with an unbeaten 96 and his gritty knock in a tough pitch at Wanderers ensured that the series is levelled 1-1 now. India and South Africa will lock horns in the third and final Test at Cape Town, beginning January 11.
Kagiso Rabada goes to Newlands for the 3rd Test as the series’ leading wicket-taker with 13 at 19.61. Almost forgotten is the fact that Dean Elgar, who was unbeaten on 96 on Thursday, is South Africa’s top run-scorer with 202 – two runs behind KL Rahul.
The Proteas knocked India over for 202 and 266. However, the Indian bowlers failed to defend 240 in the fourth innings as the home side romped home by seven wickets to level the three-match series.