‘Don't think you are conducting yourself extremely well’ – Dean Elgar on his motivational talk with Kagiso Rabada in Johannesburg Test

Kagiso Rabada has not had the best of times in recent days as he failed to create the impact that he has had over the years. However, he managed to bowl one of the most enthralling spells in the second innings at Wanderers that opened the doors for a first-ever Test win against India in Johannesburg. Rabada accounted for the downfall of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara at a time when India was cruising with a 111-run partnership.

The 26-year old’s dream spell had changed the course of the game and had created faith for the batters to chase down a score of 240 in the fourth innings. Dean Elgar played a captain’s knock with an unbeaten 96 and his gritty knock in a tough pitch at Wanderers ensured that the series is leveled 1-1 now. The skipper, in the post-match conference, opened up on the chat he had with Rabada to bring out the best in him.

I know what KG is capable of, reckons Dean Elgar

Elgar was quite convinced of the impact Rabada can create in a Test and noted that the right arm quick has always responded well after having a chat. He also added about the fact that Rabada becomes a nightmare for the batters when the seamer gets fired up.

“I went up to KG (Kagiso Rabada) and I said to him, ‘You are an immensely respected cricketer within our group and at the moment I don’t think you are conducting yourself extremely well. I know what KG is capable of. When KG’s got his tail up, there’s no better bowler than him and I have experienced quite a few guys who have been part of this team.

“It was a good chat. I can have those chats with KG and he responds extremely well. He takes it away, he lets it process and thinks about it overnight and then he comes back the next day with a scenario for me.” Elgar said in the post-match conference

The Proteas star bowler finished with figures of 3 for 77 in the second innings but the partnership he broke was the most important. Elgar was very much delighted with his side’s leader of the pack as the latter responded with excellent performance to bring South Africa back in the contest.

“He was the one who came to me and said what we spoke about: I hit the nail on the head. He can sometimes be a little bit too relaxed and he needs to understand that his performance on the field and his performance in the change-room is huge,” Elgar added