South Africa captain Dean Elgar opened up about his behind the scenes conversation with Kagiso Rabada that inspired the senior pacer to change the game in the second Test against India.
Rabada played a key role in South Africa’s series win by seven wickets in the second Test on Thursday, taking six wickets, three wickets in each innings.
During the post-match presentation, Elgar said that “sometimes KG needs a rocket” and “there was something that happened behind the scenes but we’re not going into that.”
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“I went up to KG and I told him, ‘You’re a highly respected cricketer within our group and at this point I don’t think you’re doing yourself very well,’ Elgar said during the post-match press conference.
“I know what KG is capable of. When KG raised his tail, there was no better bowler than him and I have experienced a lot of people who have been part of this team. It was a good chat.
“I can do those chats with KG and he responds very well. He takes it away, he lets it process and thinks about it overnight and then he comes up with a scenario for me the next day. comes back.”
Elgar faced Rabada after the first Test, when he went without a wicket on the first day, but finished with seven wickets.
Elgar said, “He (Rabada) was the one who came up to me and said what we talked about: I hit the nail on the head.”
“KG has that attitude, and he needs to and he wants to bowl and he wants to contribute in a big way. You have to use it as a captain.”
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The Proteas captain said that Rabada “can be a little too relaxed at times and he needs to understand that his performances on the field and his performances in the change room are huge.”
South Africa coach Mark Boucher also revealed that “a little spark” was needed to get Rabada into the zone.
“There are some people – Dale Steyn being one of them – who need harsh words behind closed doors at certain times in their careers,” Boucher told Supersport.
“The spell that KG bowled broke the game open for us. There was a spark in the dressing room; Maybe it was needed to get him to that place.
“And we know when KG is like that it is difficult to take the ball away from him. But at the same time you want him on your side instead of the opposition team.
He said, ‘There were many right things and I think he has taken it on board and we are hoping that we can take him back to that sweet spot for the next Test because it will be good for us could.
The third and final Test will begin on January 11 in Cape Town.
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