South Africa Captain Breaks Silence on Coach's Controversial 'Grovel' Comment
South African cricket captain Temba Bavuma has broken his silence regarding head coach Shukri Conrad's controversial 'grovel' remark, stating that the coach will review his comments. The response came during a post-match press conference on November 26, 2025, following South Africa's dominant 2-0 Test series victory over India.
Bavuma's Cautious Response to the Controversy
Addressing journalists after the match, Bavuma revealed he had only learned about Conrad's comments on Wednesday morning and hadn't yet spoken directly with the coach. "Comments made by coach came to me this morning," Bavuma stated. "I was focused on the game and didn't have a chance to speak to him."
The captain offered a measured perspective on the situation, noting Conrad's experience while acknowledging the sensitivity of the remarks. "Shukri is close to 60 years old and he will have a look at his comments," Bavuma said. "But in this series, certain guys have also crossed the line. Not saying coach crossed the line, but he will surely think about it."
The Infamous 'Grovel' Remark and Its Historical Context
The controversy stems from comments made by Coach Conrad on Tuesday when explaining why South Africa continued batting despite having a substantial lead. With a smile, Conrad had stated: "We wanted the Indians to spend as much time on their feet out in the field, we wanted them to really grovel, to steer afraid, bat them completely out the gate, and then say to them: survive on the last day and an hour this evening."
The word 'grovel' carries significant historical baggage in cricket circles. The term gained infamy during the 1976 West Indies tour of England when then-English captain Tony Greig declared he would make the West Indies team "grovel." The West Indies responded by thrashing England 3-0 in the series, making Greig eat humble pie.
Reactions from Cricket Legends and Former Players
The remark has drawn criticism from cricket legends across both nations. Former Indian captain Anil Kumble and South African pace legend Dale Steyn have both expressed disappointment with Conrad's choice of words.
Former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was particularly vocal in his criticism, specifically pointing to the smirk on Conrad's face when he delivered the line. Patel labeled the comments as disrespectful and suggested that an apology would be appropriate on the fifth day of the Test match.
The incident has somewhat overshadowed South Africa's impressive performance in the series, where they completely outplayed the Indian team across both Test matches. The Proteas' dominant display marked a significant achievement for Coach Conrad, who has been credited with transforming a multicultural group into a cohesive winning unit.
As the cricket community continues to debate the appropriateness of Conrad's language, all eyes will be on whether the South African coaching staff issues any formal clarification or apology regarding the controversial remarks.
