IND v SA: India Missed Virat Kohli, He Brings A Different Dynamic To The Game - Dean Elgar

South Africa captain Dean Elgar lauded his Indian counterpart, Virat Kohli, ahead of the third and final Test match between the two sides to be played at the Newlands, Cape Town. Kohli had missed the second Test at Johannesburg and Dean Elgar led from the front to help Proteas win the match and level the three-Test series 1-1.

Team India had won the first Test match in Centurion, becoming the first Asian team to win a match at the Supersport Park. This gave India a lead of 1-0 lead. However, on the day of the second Test in Wanderers, Virat Kohli suffered a back spasm and pulled out of the match, leading to vice-captain KL Rahul making his Test captaincy debut for India.

Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada ensured India made only 202 in their first innings and kept the pressure from thereon. Though South Africa made 229 in their first innings with Shardul Thakur taking 7/61, Proteas managed to keep India to 266 in the second innings, setting a target of 240 runs to win the match, which they did with Elgar making 96* and Rassie van der Dussen making 40.

His Name Speaks For Itself And It’s One Of The More Respected Cricketers Around So: Dean Elgar On Virat Kohli

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar on Monday termed India captain Virat Kohli as a ‘world-class player’ who brings a different dynamic to the game.

”Virat brings a different dynamic to the game. I don’t think I missed him. But I think potentially his team missed him, no doubt just from a captaincy point of view and maybe from a strategy point of view. He is a world class player and very experienced within their squad.

His name speaks for itself and it’s one of the more respected cricketers around so I wouldn’t say I missed him… But it doesn’t matter who are playing against. We as a team, we need to focus on us,” said Dean Elgar during a virtual press conference.

Elgar further praised pacer Kagiso Rabada, who will be playing his 50th Test match on Tuesday.

“Playing 50 Tests for your country is massive. When he started he was extremely raw and he had express pace and I think he’s come of age in that period of time. He’s influenced our group in such a big way on and off the field,” said Elgar.

The Cape Town Test will also be Virat Kohli’s 99^th match for the Indian team in the format.

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