Opener Dean Elgar shared that county cricket is the reason behind his recent success with the bat. He said that it was his best hundred for South Africa on Friday in the first Test against India. Elgar scored 160 off 287 balls.

“Any three-figure mark for South Africa is a massive moment for me. It’s always an emotional time. A lot of hard graft has happened in the previous series where you have failed. You look back and you realise that it’s very special. Even in the trying conditions that we have, we have not experienced heat like this back home,” Elgar said.

“The wicket obviously wears down quite quickly. I’d like to think it may be my best hundred I have had for South Africa, especially playing against the prowess of India and to show them that last time was a little bit easier but this time it is not going to be a pushover,” he added.

Elgar was among those who had a horrible tour of India four years ago. However, on Friday, South Africa batters Elgar and Quinton de Kock (111 off 163 balls) put up a partnership and support them well. He said he learnt a lot from his past mistakes.

“We knew it was going to be tough. We knew we were going to be facing quality bowlers on a wearing pitch. But I always had the hope that if we knuckle down and give ourselves a chance, the best chance to try and score, give us a platform to allow us to express ourselves a little bit, we could always get to the position we are,” he said.

“A lot of stern messages were given out this morning in the huddle and it is nice to see that the new faces or even the older faces knuckle down and do their bit for the side. It is tough playing Test cricket in India. You are always up against it, they are always coming at you. But I felt with previous experiences of playing against them that if you apply yourself, you give yourself the opportunity, you can get there,” he expressed.

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However, Ashwin had a special connection with Elgar. He won the battles against Elgar in county cricket earlier this year but on Friday, Elgar did well against him.

“I’m not playing the player, I’m playing the ball that is coming my way now. He (Ashwin) can get me out another 10 times, I could not care. I am trying to perform, face a ball coming my way. If you face a 100 balls, sooner or later he is going to get you a few times. That is just the nature of facing him over and over. He is just going to get you out,” he said. “I’m not going to think how many times he has got me out or how many times he is going to get me out which I’m comfortable with. I approach the ball coming my way.”

“He’s a phenomenal bowler and it’s always a good challenge to face. I’ll always appreciate the moments we get to play on the field. I’m not going to say anything, just try and let my bat do the talking. I night have won today, but there is still many many battles,” he told.

“It’s good to contribute once again. Playing in India is very tough. The last time I was here, I was very inexperienced. In those four years, I have grown a lot as a cricketer. I have played county cricket, which has helped,” he pointed.