Gavaskar says Conrad’s ‘grovel’ remark was wrong time, wrong place

Sunil Gavaskar termed South Africa coach Shukri Conrad’s use of the word ‘grovel’ as ill-advised. He highlighted India’s role in South Africa’s cricket re-entry, stressed the positive ties between the two nations, and urged Conrad to clarify his remark

Hyderabad: Cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar addressed South Africa coach Shukri Conrad’s recent remark and said that it was an ill-advised use of the word ‘grovel’.

“We need to look back at South Africa’s re-entry into international cricket. It was the Indian Cricket Board that proposed South Africa’s readmission after more than 20 years of isolation, and their first international match on return was played in India,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar’s Cricket Live programme.

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“When you consider the current landscape of South African cricket, especially the SA20, five out of the six franchises are Indian-owned. These owners are significantly supporting South African players—not just the international stars who are well taken care of, but the fringe players as well—giving them opportunities to build strong careers,” he said.

“Indian and South African cricket have shared a positive, collaborative relationship for decades. Across all the years and encounters between the two teams, the cricket has always been competitive and tough, but never hostile,” Gavaskar said.

“I have witnessed nearly every India–South Africa contest, and it has always been hard, fair cricket. Nothing beyond that. So yes, it may have been an ill-advised remark—wrong time, wrong place,” he said.

“I hope that in his next media interaction, he addresses it. I don’t think an apology is necessary; I personally don’t believe in apologies. But acknowledging it and making up for it would be accepted by everyone. These things happen,” Gavaskar said.

“In the heat of the moment, you can get carried away and say something that goes a bit over the top. Given the strong connection between Indian and South African cricket over the last 30 years, I think he can simply clarify that he got a bit carried away,” Gavaskar said.