SA’s best rake in the big bucks for IPL but must perform for the Proteas

Cape Town - Proteas Test captain Dean Elgar is a throwback to when cricketers were still cricketers.

For Elgar it’s all about the grind and hard work that will eventually lead to success. There’s no such thing as instant gratification for him.

But part of his responsibility of captaining the national team is managing other personalities and egos within the Proteas dressing room who manage to acquire riches a little bit easier.

This always becomes a little bit harder after each Indian Premier League (IPL) auction with some players becoming multi-millionaires in the blink of an eye.

This past weekend Elgar’s premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s already sizeable bank balance was boosted by a further R18.6-million when the Kings XI Punjab acquired his services.

Elgar, though, has already shown this summer he cares little about

Rabada’s impressive wealth with a stern conversation when he felt his talisman wasn’t at his best.

He had a further warning to any aspirant millionaires last week when he said from quarantine in New Zealand that “if a player is to pick up a big deal, we are still going to pull him in line because he’s got to play for us first and foremost”.

Rabada will don the @PunjabKingsIPL jersey - Congratulations @KagisoRabada25 #TATAIPLAuction @TataCompanies pic.twitter.com/VG5fV6HypK

These words would certainly have been ringing in rookie Marco Jansen’s ears after the left-arm seamer was picked up for 4.2 crores (about R8.4m) by the Sunrisers Hyderabad yesterday.

ALSO READ: Kagiso Rabada, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock go for millions in Indian Premier League auction

Although the 21-year-old has had a taste of the IPL with the Mumbai Indians last season, he is still only three Tests and a single ODI into his