In a surprising turn of events, former South Africa cricket captain Dean Elgar has decided to bid farewell to his illustrious cricketing career. The 36-year-old left-handed batter will be concluding his journey with the upcoming two-match Test series against India on home turf.
Elgar, who has represented South Africa for over 12 years, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine, but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate!” With 86 Tests under his belt, he has decided to retire after the Indian home series.
The Cape Town Test, Elgar’s favorite stadium, will witness his final appearance, marking the end of a remarkable career. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have.”
Throughout his career, Elgar has been a stalwart for South Africa, amassing 5,146 runs in Test cricket. As the eighth-highest run-scorer for his country in the format, he leaves behind a legacy that includes 13 centuries against various Test-playing nations, excluding Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
His decision to retire means that Elgar will miss the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. This absence will necessitate changes in the Proteas’ lineup, as several frontline players will be engaged in the SA20 league.
Debuting in 2012 during South Africa’s tour of Australia, Elgar quickly made his mark by scoring a century in his third match. Over the years, he has consistently delivered for his team, with Sri Lanka being his favorite opponent, having scored match-winning hundreds against them in 2014, 2017, and 2021.
Elgar also had the honor of captaining the South African Test side, taking over from Faf du Plessis in 2017 and later being appointed as the permanent captain in 2021. Under his leadership, South Africa achieved notable series victories in the West Indies and against India at home, even topping the World Test Championship table at one point in 2022. However, all good things must come to an end, and Elgar has chosen the Indian series as the fitting conclusion to his cricketing journey.
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