Elgar: Test series win over India will be ‘very satisfying’

Cricket365
January 17, 2018

South Africa opener Dean Elgar admits that a Test series victory over India would be “very satisfying” after what the Proteas had to endure on their tour to the sub-continent in 2015.

Three years ago, Elgar was part of the Proteas team that lost a four-match Test series three-nil in India (one of the games got rained off) to end a proud nine-year unbeaten record away from home.

That series was also characterized by the extreme turning pitches that was prepared by the Indian curators with balls spinning square in the first session of most days.

South Africa have now leaked their wounds and are now in a favourable position to win the current series at home against the number-one ranked team.

After beating tourists by 72 runs in the first Test at Newlands, the Proteas just need another seven wickets on day five in Centurion to wrap up the series with one game to spare.

REPORT: Ngidi strikes as Proteas eye series win

Speaking to reporters after the fourth day’s play, Elgar said: “It will be very satisfying. I think what happened in India, we left with a lot of scars.

“Us giving them that kind of treatment and beating them here in South Africa is definitely going to be satisfying for us.”

India have already lost batting superstar and skipper Virat Kohli in the second innings and Elgar knows the Indian captain’s wicket was massive late on Tuesday.

Kohli scored a masterful 153 in the first innings but it will up to his teammates to get the remaining 252 runs required to level the series.

Elgar said of Kohli’s wicket: “It’s massive for us and massive for India knowing that he’s not batting.

“He is a very special batsman, as we saw in the first innings, and we knew it was a massive moment to get him out.

“We also knew that it was very possible, because he’s human and he can also fail.

“I’m sitting here with a smile on my face knowing that he’s one less extremely talented guy that we don’t have to deal with.”