“Was Pretty Shocked” By Quinton De Kock’s Test Retirement, Says South Africa Captain Dean Elgar

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar says he was initially “shocked” at Quinton de Kock’s sudden retirement from Test cricket but insisted that the team will take the setback in its stride and strive to level the ongoing series against India. De Kock, only 29, announced his retirement from the traditional format at the end of the opening Test against India, which the hosts lost by 113 runs at SuperSport Park on Thursday. “I was pretty shocked. But sitting down with Quiney (Quinton de Kock), he explained his reasons and I respect and fully understand his decision,” Elgar said at a virtual press conference on the eve of the second Test.

“I don’t think there will be any,” Elgar responded when asked if there be any hangover on the players about his retirement.

“The responsibility for us is to carry and conduct ourself as international players. We still have to be professional around this. We still have a Test series to level, so I don’t think there will be any hangover or shock over Quiney’s retirement.”

“Players respect the environment. We realise that we had a few setbacks in recent times and we need to obviously have to be clever around it and get over it. I don’t see this affecting the players of still being shocked about his retirement.”

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De Kock had stated that he wanted to give more time to his family while announcing his retirement.

“This is not a decision that I have come to very easily. I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like and what needs to take priority in my life now that Sasha and I are about to welcome our first child into this world and look to grow our family beyond that. My family is everything to me and I want to have the time and space to be able to be with them during this new and exciting chapter of our lives,” De Kock had said.