South Africa's cricket captain, Temba Bavuma, has broken his silence on the controversial comments that surfaced during the recent Test tour of India, addressing both his coach's choice of words and an on-field remark made by Indian players about his height.
Bumrah and Pant's On-Field Remark and Apology
The first incident occurred during the high-pressure first Test match in Kolkata. Bavuma revealed that Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant used a term in their language that referenced his stature while discussing a potential LBW appeal.
Bavuma, in a column for ESPNcricinfo, stated that the two senior Indian players later approached him to apologise. "I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me. At the end of the day two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologised," he wrote. He admitted he was initially unaware of the specific comment, learning about it only after the apology was offered.
The Proteas skipper adopted a pragmatic stance towards the exchange, noting that while such words are not forgotten and can be used as motivation, he holds no personal grudges. "What happens on the field, stays on the field but you don’t forget what is said. You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se," Bavuma added.
Conrad's 'Grovel' Comment Stirs Controversy
The second, and more publicly debated, episode involved South Africa's head coach, Shukri Conrad. During a press conference ahead of the second Test in Guwahati, Conrad used the term 'grovel' in the context of the team's approach to the series.
This word choice immediately drew sharp criticism and unfortunate comparisons. It echoed the infamous remark made in the 1970s by former England captain Tony Greig, who had said he intended to make the West Indies team 'grovel' – a comment widely condemned for its racist connotations.
Bavuma found himself fielding questions from the media, pressured to clarify his coach's statement. "The first time I heard about it, it had that unsavoury taste to it," the captain confessed, acknowledging the loaded history of the term.
Reflection and Resolution
Bavuma defended Conrad's character but agreed the wording was a misstep. He pointed out that the comment highlighted the intense competitiveness of the Test series. Ultimately, Coach Shukri Conrad apologised for his remark after the ODI series that followed.
"Shukri spoke after the ODI series and put that issue to bed. In hindsight, he said he could have chosen a better word and I agree with him," Bavuma stated, bringing closure to the incident. He positioned Conrad as the best person to provide context for his own words, even if the initial phrasing was regrettable.
These episodes from the India vs South Africa Test series underscore how language and historical context remain sensitive issues in international sport, where words spoken on and off the field are intensely scrutinised.
