South Africa skipper Dean Elgar says he was initially "shocked" at Quinton de Kock's sudden retirement from Test cricket, but insisted that the team will take the setback in its stride and strive to level the ongoing series against India.
Dean Elgar says the hundred he scored on Friday, in the first Test against India in Visakhapatnam, could be the best he's registered for South Africa and credited County cricket, including his battles with Ravichandrn Ashwin there, for making him a better batsman against quality spin.
Elgar said he had told his side to play with courage and to push themselves to the limit, as South Africa go in search of a fourth consecutive series win on Australian soil.
Captain Dean Elgar said he always believed his young South African side could become a formidable team after they beat England by an innings and 12 runs within three days in the first Test at Lord's on Friday.
Dean Elgar says it was not worth the risk and the third and final Test against India should have been called off on the third day itself.
Images from Day 3 in the first Test between South Africa and India, at SuperSports Park, Centurion, on Thursday.
Opener Dean Elgar struck a magnificent century for South Africa but Sri Lanka came back strongly with four wickets in the final session to balance the scales on the opening day of the first Test on Wednesday.
Dean Elgar made the most of being dropped early in his innings to score his seventh Test century and anchor South Africa's 229 for four at the close of play on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Wednesday.
23 wickets and several records fell on the opening day of the second and final Test in Cape Town on Wednesday.
'Nandre showed why he has been such a shining light for South African cricket'
South Africa captain Dean Elgar has opened up about his behind the scene conversation with Kagiso Rabada that fired up the senior pacer to deliver a game-changing spell in the second Test against India.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma's participation in the on-going first Test against India was thrown into jeopardy after he limped off the field with a left hamstring strain in Centurion on Tuesday.
Part-time spinner Dean Elgar ripped through India's batting line-up with four wickets as South Africa made the hosts rue their decision to bat first on the opening day of the first Test in Mohali, on Thursday.
Opener Dean Elgar provided stubborn resistance as South Africa finished the second day of the first Test on 137 for four in reply to England's 303 at Kingsmead on Sunday.
Elgar's tactics and decision-making were terrible, says Simon Katich
Elgar appeared to give his backing to Boucher after former Test spinner Paul Adams said he had been called a "brown shit" in a South Africa team song during his time in the side, including by former wicket-keeper Boucher, who has since apologised.
India captain Virat Kohli on Friday defended his team's verbal attack on the broadcasters after Dean Elgar's contentious DRS reprieve, saying that people on the outside don't understand the trigger for such an outburst.
India captain Rohit Sharma said India can take pride in their performance after defeating South Africa inside two days of the 2nd Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja on Friday etched his name in the record books as the fastest left-arm bowler to 200 Test wickets.
South Africa skipper Dean Elgar also said the Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will be a threat for the Proteas batters in the upcoming two matches.
Images from Day 3 of the third Test between South Africa and India, in Cape Town, on Thursday.
South Africa opener Dean Elgar reckons that the toss will play an important role in tougher Indian conditions during the four-Test series and said they will look to put the Indian new ball bowlers under pressure early on.
The Indian players were visibly irked after a controversial Decision Review System (DRS) call, which went in favour of South Africa skipper Dean Elgar as he survived a close leg before shout against Ravichandran Ashwin.
Dean Elgar feels the SA batters got a 'window period' to go after the target in the 3rd Test following India's on-field outburst on the DRS call
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from the Day 1 of the 1st Test.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between South Africa and India, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Former South Africa skipper Dean Elgar has claimed that star India batter Virat Kohli "spat at him" during a Test match and apologised two years later after being confronted by his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers.
Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock's showing represented an important turning point for South Africa's relatively inexperienced batting line-up as they head into an important summer that also includes a home Test series against England.
Dean Elgar's decision backfired as South Africa were bundled out for 55 in their first innings.
Team India is in Cape Town intensively preparing for the match at Newlands, which begins on Wednesday. In a rigorous training session, players exhibited resilience, showcasing their determination to bounce back.
Injury blow hit the South African camp as Anrich Nortje was ruled out of the second Test against West Indies.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 3rd Test between South Africa and India played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane repaid the trust that was shown in them, adding it is easy to get excited by young talents but the team should continue showing faith in its senior players.
Mohammed Siraj's sensational six-wicket spell put India in control despite a superb fightback from South Africa with the ball on Day 1 of the second and final Test.
A desperate India seek to restore parity against South Africa and remain consequential in the World Test Championship.
'They perhaps hoped to get an early wicket, but once they didn't get that, they went into a shell.'
The star batter's aggression has been a fire to forge inspiration and motivation, but it has also led to some unnecessary controversies in the red-ball format.
Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been recalled for South Africa's home Test series against India, a reward for excellent domestic form from a player who shot to prominence four years ago before taking up a Kolpak contract.
