As exciting as the on-field matches were in the ongoing ODI series between India and South Africa, an off-field video has come into controversy. In a clip spreading rapidly on social media, it is being claimed that after the first ODI, Virat Kohli avoided shaking hands with South Africa coach Shukri Conrad. Although the length of the video is so short that the truth does not come out clearly, but the debate has definitely started.

What is seen in the viral video?

The video starts when the Indian players are shaking hands with the opposition players while returning to the pavilion. In the clip, it is seen that Virat Kohli reaches right in front of Conrad, but he is not seen extending his hand in the camera. After this, Kohli is seen shaking hands with two South African players standing in the front row. This footage of a few seconds is spreading rapidly on the internet. However, it is not clear whether Kohli had already shaken hands with Conrad before the video started. Therefore it is too early to draw conclusions.

We missed this, Virat Kohli ignored South Africa’s head coach after India won

He must have listened to the PC pic.twitter.com/5VnVHlmLyY

— Dive (@crickohlic) December 2, 2025

The root of this controversy is ‘Grovel’ statement

This entire matter has come to light at a time when coach Shukri Conrad is already on target of Indian fans for one of his statements. After the Guwahati Test, Conrad had said that his team had made a strategy to make India “grovel”. The word ‘grovel’ itself has a controversial history. In 1976, England captain Tony Greig had used the same word to humiliate the West Indies team. In such a situation, there was already huge resentment over this statement.

Conrad’s entire statement was that his team wanted India to stand on the field for a long time. His goal was to make the Indian players “really groove” so that the challenge on the last day would become more difficult. Naturally, this statement was not liked by the cricket world and it was called extremely insensitive due to racial references.

What was Kohli’s true intention?

Now this viral video is being linked to the same statement, but there has been no response from Kohli. Virat is known for dignity and sportsmanship on the field. In such a situation, it is difficult to say how true the claims based on the incomplete clip are.

The South African team, which won the Kolkata Test, is close to victory in Guwahati also. On the fourth day, guest South Africa set a target of 549 runs for India. After this, by the end of the day’s play, Team India lost two wickets for 27 runs. Sai Sudarshan and Kuldeep Yadav returned unbeaten. Now on the last day, India has to score 522 runs to win, which is almost impossible. Whereas South Africa has to take 8 wickets to win. After the end of the fourth day’s play, South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad has given a big statement, due to which the Indian fans may get angry.

This statement of Shukri Conrad may create tension, but he said that he is stealing a sentence from the famous interview of late England captain Tony Greig which he said before the series against Clive Lloyd’s West Indies team in 1976. His team lost that series 0-3.

Conrad said in the press conference after the end of the fourth day’s play, “We wanted the Indian team to spend as much time as possible on the field. We wanted to bring them to their knees (I am stealing this sentence) and we wanted to take the match completely out of their control.”

Conrad has given rise to controversy by using the word ‘grovel’ for this. ‘Growal’ means to lie down or crawl on the ground. Greg, a white cricketer of South African origin, used this word in the context of apartheid in South Africa and Caribbean players.

It is not yet known whether Cricket South Africa has spoken to its black coach who used objectionable references about the opposing team. Conrad was asked why there was so much delay in declaring the innings and whether it could affect the outcome of the match.

He further said, “There were a few aspects. We wanted to make the best use of the new ball and get a new and harder ball in the morning. Also we wanted the Indian players to stay at the crease most of the time. Some people will say that you batted too long but I don’t think so.”

The South African team has come to India for 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 5 T20 matches. The visiting team defeated Team India by 30 runs on the third day in the first test played in Kolkata. Now after the victory in the first test, the coach of South Africa has given a big statement. South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad is eyeing a ‘clean sweep’ for India by winning the second Test match to be played in Guwahati.

After 15 years, the South African team has won a test match in India. Now the head coach of the visiting team is eyeing to win the series. Let us tell you that the second test match between India and South Africa will be played in Guwahati from 22nd November. Team India would like to win this test and draw the series.

The work is not done yet – Shukri Konrad

Before this match, Shukri Conrad said, “It was a huge achievement for us. To come to India and play at Eden Gardens and do something which we have not done for 15 years. It is a huge achievement. We won a Test match in Pakistan, now we have won a Test match here too, but the work is not done yet. You don’t come to any country to win a Test match, you want to win a series.”

We never give up – South African coach

Konrad said, “I am very proud of this team because the players have confidence. They play together as a unit. It will be wonderful for our mentality and for us in the future. However, we do not have the ability that many teams have, or we have not yet used that ability. Yet what we lack, we make up for in our ability to play as a unit. We never give up.”