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"Stay humble": Kumble, Pujara hit back at Shukri Conrad's nasty 'grovel' remark

Soumyajit Dutta

Shukri Conrad and Anil Kumble [Source: @Werries_, @ILoveYouJanu68/X]Shukri Conrad and Anil Kumble [Source: @Werries_, @ILoveYouJanu68/X]

A major controversy has erupted following South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad's press conference after Day 4 of the second Test in Guwahati. His choice of words sparked a fierce debate on social media and surprised the Indian cricketing community. 

South Africa had set India a massive target of over 500 runs to win. Conrad's comments about his team's intentions for the final day did not sit well with Indian cricket legends. Anil Kumble and Cheteshwar Pujara both expressed their disappointment with the coach's avoidable remarks.

What did Shukri say in the press conference?

Ahead of Day 5, in a press conference, Shukri threw a debatable phrase while taking up the challenge on India.

"We wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out of the game and then say to them well, come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening," Conrad had said in the press conference.

Anil Kumble and Pujara reacts to Conrad

Anil Kumble responded with surprise. He emphasized the importance of humility in victory while citing England captains remarks from fifty years ago.

"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. South Africa have most likely won the series, but when you're on top, your choice of words matters. Humility is most important at such times. 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," Kumble said on Cricket Live.

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara suggested the comment could backfire. He believed it would motivate the Indian team to fight back.

"It does fire up the team, but it will hurt as well. I don't think that statement will go down well in the dressing room. But the best way to answer it is to fight it out-bat three sessions, build partnerships. We're in this position because we haven't played good cricket, and the response has to come with the bat, not through words," Pujara said.

Nevertheless, though the veterans believe hard in Indian players, winning the second Test against South Africa will be a mammoth task for India as they require over 500 runs to chase down on a single day to level the series.