Dean Elgar stated that he felt unfulfilled both as an individual and as a cricketer due to the limited opportunities to play Test cricket for the Proteas.
In an extensive interview with ESPNcricinfo, the 36-year-old opening batsman disclosed that he had made the decision to retire after the home series against India in December 2023/January 2024, following his replacement as Test captain by Temba Bavuma in February 2023.
Elgar scored 185 in his penultimate Test in Centurion. He had taken over the captaincy from the injured Bavuma on the morning of the first day. Before losing the second Test at Newlands by seven wickets, the Proteas won by an innings and 32 runs.
Elgar stated:
“My mind was made up long ago about where my future was, or how it looked back home. I always want to play and challenge myself at the highest level, but we didn’t have enough Test matches and that’s where I felt I was actually getting wasted as a person and as a cricketer.”