South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad sparked a heated debate online after his comments at the end of Day 4 of the second Test in Guwahati. With India set a target of over 500 runs on the final day, Conrad said he wanted the team to "grovel" — a remark that left the Indian cricketing community taken aback. Legends like Anil Kumble and Cheteshwar Pujara admitted they didn’t expect such a phrase from the South African camp.
"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 well, come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening," Conrad said in the press conference.
Kumble, one of India’s greatest spinners, said that he expected South Africa to remain grounded, especially when they were on the verge of a historic win.
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"There's history attached to this. Fifty years ago, an England captain used the same phrase against the great West Indies side, and we all know what followed," he said on Star Sports India.
He also added, "South Africa have most likely won the series, but when you're on top, your choice of words matters. Humility is most important at such times. I certainly didn't expect this from the coach or the support staff. When you're winning, the first thing is to stay humble, not say something like this at a press conference."
Why the 'Grovel' word can be derogatory?
The term first gained notoriety during England’s 1976 tour of the West Indies, when England captain Tony Greig — a white South African–born cricketer — sparked outrage by saying his team would make the West Indies “grovel.” The remark was condemned as racially insensitive, especially in the context of the era’s political tensions and historical power imbalances.
Since then, “grovel” has carried a heavy undertone in cricketing conversations, often considered disrespectful when directed at teams shaped by complex racial or colonial histories.
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Ahead of Day 5, Pujara also felt the remark could fuel India’s fightback.
"It does fire up the team, but it will hurt as well. I don't think that statement will go down well in the dressing room," he said.
He added, "But the best way to answer it is to fight it out-bat three sessions, build partnerships. We're in this position because we haven't played good cricket, and the response has to come with the bat, not through words.”
