South African Cricket Coach Ignites Firestorm with 'Grovel' Comment
South Africa's cricket coach Shukri Conrad has provoked widespread anger among India's billion cricket fans after stating his team wanted to make the hosts 'really grovel' during their ongoing Test series. The controversial remark came as the Proteas positioned themselves for their first series victory in India in 25 years.
Controversial Press Conference Sparks Immediate Backlash
Coach Conrad made the inflammatory statement during a press conference in Guwahati on Tuesday, following a dominant day where South Africa set India a mammoth target of 549 runs to win the second Test. 'We wanted them to really grovel... bat them completely out the game and then say to them, well, come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening,' Conrad told reporters.
The visitors had reduced India to 2-27 by the close of play, putting them on the brink of a historic series triumph. However, the coach's choice of language immediately overshadowed the sporting achievement.
Historical Context Adds Fuel to Fire
The term 'grovel' carries heavy racial implications in cricket circles, dating back to a notorious incident in 1976. Then-England captain Tony Greig, who was South African-born, vowed to make the West Indies team 'grovel' during their Test series.
Given the colonial history between England and Caribbean nations, Greig's comment caused massive offence. The West Indies responded by delivering a brutal performance that saw them defeat England 3-0, turning the remark into a symbol of racial insensitivity in cricket.
Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta expressed his dismay on social media platform X: 'South Africa, the land of Nelson Mandela and also Mahatma Gandhi, suffered so much due to apartheid. A South African should be the last one to say: "We wanted them (India) to grovel."'
Online Reaction and Match Context
The digital response was swift and severe. Another Indian reporter, Gargi Raut, described Conrad's comment as 'a huge misstep' with 'long history of deeply offensive, racial undertones.'
South Africa declared their second innings at 260-5 after Tristan Stubbs scored 94 runs. The World Test champions currently lead the two-match series 1-0 following India's defeat in Kolkata. Even a draw in the second Test would secure South Africa's first series victory in India since 2000.
India's recent home record has been uncharacteristically poor, suffering their fourth defeat in six home Tests during the series opener. This follows a humiliating 3-0 series loss to New Zealand last year, ending India's 12-year unbeaten streak in home Test series.
As bad light ended play in Guwahati, Indian batsmen Sai Sudharsan (2) and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (4) were battling for survival. The home team requires three more sessions of determined batting to avoid another defeat, facing what would be the highest successful run chase in Test history if they were to achieve the 549-run target.
