While Dean Elgar has featured in 85 Tests in his career – and the Cape Town Test will be his 86th and last Test – the left-hander has played in only 8 ODI matches, spread from 2012 to 2018.
Since Elgar never got to appear in the ICC World Cup, the 36-year-old says that winning a Test series against India, in his career’s last Test series, would be like winning a World Cup for him.
India and South Africa will face off in Cape Town, starting Wednesday. Dean Elgar will captain the side as Temba Bavuma, who suffered a hamstring injury on Day 1 in the first Test in Centurion, is ruled out.
While for the India skipper Rohit Sharma the heartbreak of losing the home World Cup a few weeks ago lingers, Elgar is preparing for his own version of the 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,” Elgar said on Tuesday.
A hundred at his home ground against India in his farewell series.
Take a bow, Dean Elgar…!!! pic.twitter.com/bxPZMEMt9c
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 27, 2023
Dean Elgar wants to defeat Rohit Sharma’s team by 2-0
With 5331 runs, Elgar is the 8th leading South African Test scorer; he could surpass Mark Boucher (5498) in Cape Town. He has notched up 14 Test centuries, the last of which came in Centurion, a match-winning score of 185.
The veteran, who had stepped down as the Test skipper 11 months ago, said that being asked to captain in his career’s last Test is the biggest accolade he could get.
Elgar is targetting a 2-0 series win over India, who would aim to level the series and take some crucial WTC points.
“There’s no bigger honour than to captain your country irrespective of who you are playing against but being against India adds more flavour. 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,” he added.
