South Africa coach Shukri Conrad admitted that his “grovel” remark about India was a mistake. The comment during the Guwahati Test series shifted attention away from what should have been a celebration of South Africa’s historic Test series win. You saw how one word changed the entire conversation.
Conrad Admits He Chose the Wrong Word
Conrad said he would have framed his words differently if he knew how strongly people would react. He accepted that the phrase carried weight in South Africa and created the wrong message. You now understand he wanted competition, not controversy.
Apology After ODI Series Loss
After losing the ODI series 2-1, Conrad reflected on both the matches and his statement. He said the word “grovel” distracted from his players’ achievement. You hear he meant India should fight hard, not feel insulted.
Focus on Players and Humility
Conrad stressed that his team values humility above all. He said his role is to speak for players, not overshadow them. You were also told he will choose words more carefully, knowing how easily statements travel beyond their intent.
Missed Chance in Both Formats
Speaking on the ODI series, Conrad said South Africa missed a rare chance to beat India in Tests and ODIs at home. You have not seen that double win since the 1990s. For him, that failure hurt as much as the defeat.
Praise for Indian Seniors
Conrad praised Player of the Series Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He said young South African players learned by watching them bat. You can see the respect stood firm, despite the earlier misunderstanding.
Lessons from the Final Match
South Africa bowled well but failed to post strong totals. That allowed India to take charge in the final game. You now see that performance, not words, decided the outcome of the series.
