“Virat Kohli Spat At Me”: South African Former Cricketer Dean Elgar Reveals About His Rivalry

Former South Africa captain Dean Elgar has leveled a surprising accusation against the renowned Indian cricketer Virat Kohli.

Elgar called time on his international cricket career following South Africa’s two-Test series against India at home in December, where he filled in for regular captain Temba Bavuma.

During a podcast, without specifying the series (believed to be South Africa’s 2015 tour of India), Elgar acknowledged having heated exchanges with Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.

The incident in question likely occurred during South Africa’s 2015 tour of India, a 4-match Test series that Kohli’s team won 3-0 on pitches that heavily favored spin.

Elgar said, “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 (Ravichandran) Ashwin and what’s his name Jeja (Ravindra Jadeja) (smiles) and Kohli, he like spat at me.”

Elgar further added, “I said to him if you do that, I’ll f*****g ***** you with this bat.”

When the host inquired if Kohli comprehended Elgar’s South African profanity, Elgar mentioned that Kohli was familiar with it due to their extensive time together with AB de Villiers.

“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 left-hander added.

Elgar disclosed that Kohli’s actions surprised even AB de Villiers, leading the former South African skipper to confront the then-Indian captain.  ABD asked Kohli, “Why are you spitting at my teammate?”

Elgar also shared that during the 2018 tour, Kohli extended an invitation to join him for drinks and offered an apology for the incident where he spat at Elgar.

“Two three years later, Kohli pulled me aside and said ‘listen, can we go and have a drink after the series I want to apologise for my actions’. So we drank till 3 in the morning. This is when he used to drink,” Dean Elgar concluded.

Elgar expressed his delight when questioned about his last Test match for South Africa against players like Kohli and Ashwin, stating, “It was an incredible experience.” In his final Test innings at Cape Town in December 2023, Kohli, despite catching Elgar’s bat, chose not to celebrate and instead embraced the South African as he walked back to the pavilion. Kohli went a step further by gifting one of his Test jerseys to the Proteas player.