In a remarkable disclosure on the new Betway podcast “Banter, with The Boys,” featuring notable personalities like Chris Morris, comedian Nik Rabinowitz, and Jean de Villiers, former South Africa cricket captain Dean Elgar opened up about a tense episode with Indian cricket star Virat Kohli. The incident dates back to the 2015 South Africa tour of India, which was particularly notable as it marked Virat Kohli’s first home series as captain.
The incident unfolded during the first match of the four-Test series at the IS Bindra Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. It was here, Elgar narrates, that the on-field drama between him and Kohli reached its peak. Speaking on the podcast at the 27:55 mark, Elgar vividly recalls the episode: “Those wickets were jokes. Like playing on that… that surface there. And I came into bat and I was actually like holding my own against Ashwin and what’s his name Jeja, Jeja, Jeja (Ravindra Jadeja) (smiles) and Kohli, he like spat at me.”
Elgar’s response to Kohli’s aggression was equally assertive. “I said to him if you do that, I’ll f*****g ***** you with this bat,” he added, employing a local profanity to convey his strong feelings.
The host probed further, asking whether Kohli understood the severity of Elgar’s words. Elgar’s reply sheds light on the cultural intersections in international cricket: “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. And then [he said] ‘Hey F*** you, F*** you’ (mimicking the Indian) but barking up the wrong tree yeah. Anyways, we are in India so you got to be a little bit cautious.”
The series, eventually won by India 3-0, marked the start of a fierce but respectful rivalry between the two players. This rivalry culminated gracefully earlier this year when Elgar retired following the New Year’s Test in Cape Town. In a fitting farewell, Kohli presented Elgar with a jersey signed by all the Indian players, epitomizing the deep mutual respect that had developed beyond their fiery encounters.
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