Why Shukri Conrad’s ‘we wanted India to grovel’ comment has sparked a ‘racism’ controversy

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad’s “we wanted India to really grovel” has sparked a massive controversy with many Indian fans feeling that the former cricketer crossed the line with his comments, which are “racist” in nature. Shukri Conrad’s controversial comment came after Day 4 action in the second Test between India and South Africa at Guwahati.

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With India reeling at 27/2 and needing 522 runs more to level the two-match series, South Africa are firmly in the driver’s seat, eyeing their second-ever Test series win in India.

Conrad used the “grovel” term while trying to explain why South Africa batted deep on Day 4, beyond the second session, despite having a lead of over 500. They eventually declared at 260/5 in the third session, setting India a target of 549.

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South African bowlers got just 15.5 overs against India batters before play was called off on Day 4 due to bad light. The critics felt that South Africa should have declared much earlier to have more overs to bowl at India, but Conrad said, “There were a few factors. We obviously look at how best we are going to use the new ball so that in the morning we still have a newish, hardish ball. We felt that when the shadows come across the wicket in the evening, there is something in it for the quick bowlers. So we did not want to declare too early and lose that advantage. And of course we wanted India to spend as much time as possible on their feet in the field.”

And then he added the controversial part: “We wanted them (India) 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.”

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Conrad’s comments reinvokes Tony Greig controversy 

Grovel as such is not seen as a racist term, but it has some history in cricket. The South African-born England captain Tony Greig had used the infamous we want “to make them grovel” remark before a Test series against West Indies in 1976.

This did not go down well with West Indies players whose countries had been victims of racism and British colonialism. “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any black man,” the then West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was quoted as saying after they defeated England 3-0 in the five-match Test series.

As per the Merriam-Webster dictionary, grovel means “to creep with the face to the ground,” or “to lie or creep with the body prostrate in token of subservience or abasement,” or “to give oneself over to what is base or unworthy.”

This makes it clear that ‘grovel’ means subservience in all forms of its meaning, and this is why the usage of the term by the South African coach has disturbed the Indian cricket community.

Indian fans slam Conrad over ‘grovel’ comment

Some of the top cricket journalists of the country and fans have slammed Conrad over his comments.

This series will be remembered forever for this statement from South African Coach Shukri Conrad on Team India on why did SA declared late….“WE WANTED INDIA TO GROVEL,” India TV’s Samip Rajguru said on X.

This series will be remembered forever for this statement from South African Coach Shukri Conrad on Team India on why did SA declared late...."WE WANTED INDIA TO GROVEL"

— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) November 25, 2025

Aaj Tak’s Vikrant Gupta said: “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.” Maybe Mr Conrad didn’t mean the racial undertone. Hope so.”

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.”
Maybe Mr Conrad didn’t mean the racial undertone. Hope so

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 25, 2025

“Tony Greig - 1976, to West Indies team “I intend to make them grovel”. South African Coach Shukri Conrad - 2025, to Indian team “We wanted them to really grovel”. 50 years apart, both South Africans, both racists,” A user wrote on X.

The South African team management has not clarified Conrad’s comments so far. It would be interesting to see if any clarification is provided after Day 5.