Dean Elgar claimed Kohli Spat at Him
In a surprising revelation, former South Africa captain Dean Elgar recently recounted a memorable incident from the Proteas’ 2015 tour of India. Elgar claimed that during the first Test in Mohali, a young Virat Kohli spat at him on the challenging pitch, leaving a lasting impression on their cricketing rivalry.
Reflecting on the unique encounter on the “Banter, with The Boys” podcast, Elgar remarked, “Those wickets were jokes. Like playing on that… that surface there. And I came into bat, holding my own against Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and Kohli, he spat at me.”
When asked if Kohli understood the meaning behind the confrontation, Elgar replied, “Yes, he did because de Villiers was his teammate at RCB, so he understood. And I said if you do that, I’ll … on this field, I’ll absolutely knock you out. Anyways, we are in India so you got to be a little bit cautious.”
Despite the tension, Elgar revealed that Kohli extended an apology during India’s subsequent tour to South Africa in 2017-18. “Two, three years later, Kohli pulled me aside and said, ‘Listen, can we go and have a drink after the series? I want to apologize for my actions.’ So we drank till 3 in the morning,” shared Elgar.
This incident stands as a testament to the unpredictable dynamics of cricket rivalries, showcasing how conflicts on the field can evolve into a more amicable relationship off it. Elgar recently concluded his final Test against India earlier this month at Newlands in Cape Town, where he captained South Africa, and the series ended in a 1-1 draw after India won the second Test.
