Indian cricket fans and former players had strong reactions after South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said he wanted to make India “grovel” following the fourth day of the second Test in Guwahati.
Conrad passed the remarks at the post-play press conference when asked why South Africa batted for nearly 80 overs despite having a sizeable lead.
He said, “We wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out of the game and then say to them, we’ll come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.”
The word “grovel,” which historically carries strong connotations, drew backlash.
Conrad noted that he was “stealing a phrase” from a famous comment by late England captain Tony Greig before the 1976 series against Clive Lloyd’s West Indies. Greig had used the term in reference to the Caribbean players, linking it to the painful history of slavery and apartheid.
Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel criticized Conrad, saying, “Maybe the South African coach does not know the weight of the word. But I don’t think so. There was a smirk on his face when he said it. There is no doubt that it was disrespectful. As the Indian team, all you do is tell them they played well, but there was no need to use such words. I think we will see an apology from Conrad.”
Indian cricket commentator Akash Chopra also weighed in, tweeting, “‘We wanted to make India grovel’. South African coach after Day 4. I hope everyone in the Indian dressing room has been made to understand the meaning and history of this phrase in cricket.”
Senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta added, “South Africa, the land of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, suffered so much due to apartheid. A South African should be the last one to say, ‘We wanted them to grovel.’ Maybe Mr Conrad did not intend the racial undertone, but it is surprising.”
South Africa has defeated India by a massive 408 runs in the second Test in Guwahati, handing the hosts a heavy defeat on the fifth day of the match.
Earlier, in the first Test played at Eden Gardens, South Africa had secured a narrow 30-run win on the third day.