'A great world player in the making,' former India head coach praises this South Africa batsman

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SportsTak

South Africa scripted a memorable comeback to clinch the three-match Test series against the Indian team. After losing the first Test match by 113 runs, the prospects of winning the Test series turned out to be slightly difficult for the hosts. But the Proteas under the leadership of Dean Elgar showed determination and courage to win two back-to-back Test matches and ensure the series victory. 

 

Petersen's amazing batting display

In the third and final Test match of the series; South Africa batsman Keegan Petersen emerged as the saviour for the hosts. In the first innings, the 28-year-old batsman played a spending knock of 72 off 166 deliveries and helped his side in reaching a total of 210 runs.

 

In the second innings as well, Petersen played a fine knock of 82 off 113 balls and his superb batting display in the second innings helped the South African team in securing a seven-wicket victory in the final Test and eventually claim the Test series.

 

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri now has come out and praised Petersen for his courageous batting display.

 

"Keegan Peterson (KP). Excellent initials (@KP24). A great world player in the making. My childhood hero Gundappa Vishwanath comes to mind #SAvIND," tweeted Shastri.

 

Petersen's words

Petersen, on the other hand, talked about the challenging conditions he and his team had to face throughout the series.

 

"It hasn't sunk in yet. It's a mixed bag, to be honest. Happy, emotional. I was trying to be positive and then build on that. It's been difficult conditions all around and was just sticking to my guns. It's been a long journey, can't tell the whole story now, won't be over till tomorrow morning. It's been challenging surfaces, challenging bowling attacks," said Petersen during the post-match presentation.

 

While talking about the opponent team, the right-handed batsman termed the Indian team and their bowling attack as “high-quality.”

 

"We knew it was going to be difficult - they're a high-quality bowling attack, a high-quality team. We just wanted to have the mindset to fight it out. Enjoying it (success) a lot. The longer you bat, the easier it gets (on these pitches). So, just enjoyed it a lot," he explained.

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