SA vs IND 2022: Most challenging bowling I have ever come across – Keegan Petersen on Indian pace battery

South Africa’s rising star Keegan Petersen has admitted that India’s pace bowling battery is the most challenging he has ever come across in his young career.

Petersen was the standout performer for the Proteas in the recently concluded three-match Test series against India.

The right-hander top-scored in the series with 276 runs in three Test matches at an average of 46 as he scored three fifties. The rookie batter scored 82 runs in the second innings of the third Test match to help his team chase down 212 runs. Thus, Petersen was awarded the Player of the match in the third Test and he was also adjudged as the Player of the series.

Petersen showed great patience and resistance as he batted at the top of his game throughout the series against a tough bowling attack. Ergo, the youngster has definitely cemented his place in the Test team as a number three batter.

“It hasn’t completely sunk in yet,” he said. “I still can’t explain how it feels completely despite it being two days already. Myself, my family and everyone close to us are still trying to get over it somehow. It was a challenging series against one of the best bowling attacks in the world,” the official website of Cricket South Africa (CSA) quoted Petersen as saying.

“It was by far the most challenging bowling I have come across in my career, whether it’s been in first-class cricket or any form of cricket. It hasn’t been an easy introduction for me to international cricket, but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. My journey’s unique and it’s my story to tell as well,” he added.

Petersen added he is always grateful for the opportunity to represent South Africa at the top level and wants to give his best to the team.

“Whether I bat in the first couple of overs or whether I bat after 50 overs, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to be there, playing amongst a group of guys who are also trying to start something new in South African cricket. We are also trying to tell a new story as a team together as well,” said Petersen.

On the other hand, Keegan Petersen heaped praise on Dean Elgar, who led South Africa to a memorable series win. Elgar also scored a gutsy knock of 96 runs in the second Test match at the Wanderers, Johannesburg to help his team chase down 240 runs.

“Deano as our captain, he’s going to, he has and he is going to achieve great things as well as a captain. He’s a brilliant leader and we wouldn’t want anyone else to lead us. The achievement for us as a squad, we know the chips were down and the odds were against us especially after the first game where we were beaten. It wasn’t a good scenario, but we had a couple of strong chats after the game looking at ways to bounce back,” he added.

South Africa and India will now face each other in three-match ODI series.