Kumble And Pujara Blast SA Coach’s ‘Grovel’ Comment, Urge India To Respond With Dominance

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad's provocative use of the word "grovel" to describe his team's strategy during the second Test against India has ignited a fierce backlash from former Indian cricketers, who condemned the remark as insensitive and historically loaded, urging the hosts to channel the hurt into a defiant performance on the final day. Conrad, speaking after Day 4 on Saturday, explained that South Africa deliberately extended their second innings—batting nearly 80 overs to build a commanding 548-run lead and declare late—precisely to force India to toil in the field under the draining Guwahati heat.

"We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out of the game, and then say to them, 'Come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening,'" Conrad said, referencing England captain Tony Greig's infamous 1976 pre-series taunt against the West Indies. That comment, laden with racial undertones amid apartheid-era tensions and colonial legacies, galvanized Clive Lloyd's side to a 3-0 whitewash, transforming the slur into a rallying cry. Conrad's echo of it, even as a self-acknowledged borrow, stunned journalists and amplified scrutiny on a Proteas team already on the cusp of a historic series win in India—their first since 1999-2000—following a commanding first-test victory.

Former India captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble led the criticism on Cricket Live, emphasizing the phrase's painful baggage and the need for humility in victory. "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," Kumble remarked, noting South Africa's likely series triumph. "When you’re on top, your choice of words matters... 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."

Cheteshwar Pujara, the resilient batsman who has anchored countless Indian chases, agreed the words would sting deeply in the dressing room but advocated responding on the field. "It does fire up the team, but it will hurt as well. I don’t think that statement will go down well... But the best way to answer it is to fight it out—bat three sessions, build partnerships," he said, cutting through the raw input's abrupt end to underscore resilience. Commentator Aakash Chopra joined the chorus, calling the timing tone-deaf amid India's struggles on a pitch that has remarkably favored batting despite shadows aiding quick bowlers later.

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As Day 5 unfolds with India facing 90 overs (minus potential light interruptions) to chase an improbable 549—the highest successful pursuit remains 418—the controversy has overshadowed South Africa's spin-heavy dominance, featuring Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer. Conrad's quip, while cheekily defended as tactical gamesmanship, risks backfiring if India draws or survives, echoing the West Indies' historic riposte and reigniting debates on sportsmanship in cricket's post-colonial era. With the series on the line and public outrage brewing on social media, the hosts have a chance to turn verbal provocation into on-field redemption, proving that actions, not words, define dominance

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