Retiring South African skipper Dean Elgar praised the Indian team following their seven-wicket defeat in the second Test, stating that the visitors used the conditions to the tee. India beat the Proteas by seven wickets at Newlands Cricket Ground to level the two-match series 1-1. (Match Report | As It Happened | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
India chased down the paltry target of 79 on day 2 to win the match and register their first win at Cape Town in 13 years. Elgar, who was playing his final Test series, was also awarded the joint-Player of the Series award alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Elgar amassed 185 runs in the first Test to guide his team to a massive win at Centurion and also finished as the highest scorer in the two-match series.
Speaking post-game, Elgar said Indian bowlers were fantastic and used the conditions well.
“A tough one for us. Pretty positive coming into this game. India bowled fantastically and used the conditions to the tee. Still a lot of positives for the young players that we have within the side. 2-0 would have been really nice, still managed 1-1, proud of the boys. The way the bowlers bowled in the series and the way Aiden batted in the second innings is something out of the world,” said Elgar.
Speaking about the pitch, Elgar said the track was totally different to what everyone what it would, and termed it as a 'ripper'. The match between the two was the shortest Test in terms of deliveries faced in the history of the game.
“It was a bit of a ripper. Naked eye, it looked like it's going to be a nice one. It played totally different to what everyone thought. We were on the receiving end, big learning curve for us. If you ask Rohit, he'd have batted first. They just out-skilled us in that first session,” Elgar added.
Following their Test series, South Africa will head to New Zealand to play a two-match Test series.
