Monday, 27 April 2020 brings another celebration of Freedom Day, which commemorates the first democratic post-apartheid and non-racial elections held in South Africa exactly 26 years ago, when president Nelson Mandela was elected.

Test cricket between the Proteas and India are contested for the Freedom Trophy,  which is also known as the Gandhi-Mandela series.

Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, opening batsman Dean Elgar and spinner Keshav Maharaj have reflected on what the legacy of South Africa’s Mandela and India’s Mahatma Gandhi means to many.

‘Standing up for a person’s rights is one of the most important things you can stand up for. They instilled in people’s minds that you should do it in a peaceful way,’ said Rabada.

Elgar added: ‘They were obviously anti-violence and to name a cricket series after that is special.’

South Africa and India have contested 39 Tests since the first in 1992. The former have won 15 and the latter 14, with 10 draws.

South Africa will reportedly host India for a T20I series later this year, despite the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic, which currently has international cricket suspended.

‘That’s the big one for us. We can definitely play behind closed doors and still make revenue out of it,’ Cricket South Africa acting chief executive officer Jacques Faul told Sport24.

Photo: Gallo Images