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 Virat Kohli avoided shaking hands with South Africa coach Shukri Conrad after the first ODI. 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 aim 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 its 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.
