Dean Elgar’s comments where he likened winning the Test series against India before retiring to winning the World Cup has been made fun of by fans after South Africa were bowled out for 55, their lowest total in 92 years, at Newlands on January 3.
Elgar, who is captaining South Africa in the second Test against India due to an injury to Temba Bavuma, will retire after the end of the game. The left-hander, who has played 86 Tests for South Africa, has had an indifferent ODI career, playing only eight games over six years, with his last match in the format in 2018.
Ahead of his last Test, Elgar said that while he has never played in a World Cup, winning a Test series comes close to matching the emotions for him. “I only play the game to win. I don’t care about stats. I care about wins. I care about series wins. That’s the greatest memories you can ever share with your team, everyone that has got an influential role in the background. Test series wins – you don’t top that. Maybe a World Cup win is up there. I have never had that opportunity but this is my World Cup. This is my arena where I want to win.”
A day later when South Africa were bowled out for 55 within the first session of the Test, fans were quick to poke fun at Elgar’s comments, drawing reference to the Proteas’ luck in World Cups. The hosts have already taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series but now are at risk of falling to a series-draw after a brilliant new-ball spell from Mohammed Siraj.
South Africa are yet to win a 50-over World Cup despite making the semi-finals on five occasions and have yet to make an appearance in the final. In the 2023 World Cup, South Africa finished the round robin stage in second place but lost to Australia in the semi-final at Kolkata.
South Africa’s failure to do well in knockouts and decisive games and their lacklustre showing in the series decider was alluded to by fans on X (formerly Twitter).
Elgar called this is a World Cup so South Africa actually started playing like it is. pic.twitter.com/0E9XtG6Vrs
— Manya (@CSKian716) January 3, 2024
When Elgar said “This is my world cup” we should’ve known what was coming…. #SAvIND
— naeemah (@NaeemahBenjamin) January 3, 2024
Why did Elgar have to say this is his World Cup 🥲
Does he not know about our World Cup track record?#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/2rgi2IvnCr
— Werner (@Werries_) January 3, 2024
Elgar: This is my World Cup.
South Africa: Say no more.— TakeADeepBreath (@DeepTake) January 3, 2024
Dean Elgar said he considers this as his World Cup and they choked for 50 😭
You can’t make this up #SAvIND— Ashwin Kumar (@ashwin_kumarV) January 3, 2024
The Choke was inevitable #SAIND pic.twitter.com/BtKJ77zgNK
— Nick (@nickcricket) January 3, 2024
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