Experienced South African batter and former Test captain, Dean Elgar, is reportedly on the verge of announcing his retirement from international cricket after the conclusion of the upcoming home series against India. The two-match Test series against India is part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
The news of Elgar’s retirement was hinted at by a source quoted in a report by South African paper Rapport. According to the source, the announcement is expected soon, raising speculation about Elgar’s future plans beyond the India series.
Earlier this year, Elgar was replaced as South Africa’s Test captain by Temba Bavuma. The decision was a significant setback for Elgar, who expressed his disappointment, describing it as one of the toughest and most challenging periods in his career. Despite the setback, Elgar stated that he wanted to continue his international career as a batsman.
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Reflecting on the captaincy change, Dean Elgar revealed, “It was unexpected and I was hurt by it. What made it difficult is that I experienced the embarrassment of the series defeat in Australia. And just as I was trying to get over that humiliation, I was hit with more earth-shattering news.”
Elgar, aged 36, emphasized that he had come to terms with the disappointment and acknowledged that if he wanted to continue his international career, he needed to focus on his role as a batsman.
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While there were concerns about his relationship with Bavuma following the captaincy change, Dean Elgar clarified that his mutual respect with Bavuma was “rock solid.” Temba Bavuma, in turn, dismissed concerns about their relationship, stating, “Dean and I have always been good teammates, and I have always looked up to him as a senior player.”
As cricket fans await an official announcement from Elgar, the upcoming series against India could mark the end of a distinguished international career for the seasoned South African batter.
