Dean Elgar To Retire After India Test Series?

image-lq0eig0hDean Elgar (Twitter)

Former South Africa captain Dean Elgar could be calling it quits at the international stage with the conclusion of the forthcoming two-match Test series on home turf against India. The coming encounters for the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests could be Elgar's final assignment for the Proteas, stated a report. 

According to the South Africa-based newspaper 'Rapport', Elgar is about to confirm his fate in a statement in the next few days as the build-up to the much-anticipated Test series picks up steam for fans, prominent experts and even the two participating teams. 

"Just expect the news [of his retirement] to break soon," Rapport quoted a source privy to the developments saying, underlining that the 36-year-old opener isn't part of Test head coach Shukri Conrad's long-term vision. 

Notably, the news comes even as Elgar has been in solid form at the start of the domestic first-class season with 402 runs in just six innings for the Titans. The left-hander was quite instrumental with his steadfast attitude and gritty nature as a batter to South Africa withstanding the Indian threat during the 2021-22 home series. 


Elgar could retire after India Tests 

The newspaper also reported that Elgar was initially due to lead South Africa in the two-match Test series in February against New Zealand where Proteas are set to travel with a depleted side missing new regular skipper Temba Bavuma and key players due to the newly launched SA20 league. 

However, his conversations with Cricket South Africa (CSA) in this regard didn't quite materialise for the experienced cricketer's return to the helm of affairs briefly. 

Conrad is understood to be keen on picking South Africa 'A' captain Neil Brand as Elgar's futuristic replacement for the BlackCaps trip. He could be joined at the top by another promising opening batter Tony de Zorzi. 

Elgar endured a horrific run in Proteas' marquee trip to Australia last winter but is heading into the Indian series with 5,146 runs at an average of 37.28 over 84 Tests under his belt, including 13 centuries and 23 half-centuries.