A video circulating on social media has sparked claims that Virat Kohli snubbed a handshake with South Africa coach Shukri Conrad after the conclusion of the first ODI in Ranchi during South Africa’s tour of India.

The Viral Video Incident

The clip begins as Kohli approaches Conrad, but there is no visible attempt by Kohli to extend a hand toward the South African coach. However, Kohli then proceeds to shake hands with the next two South African players in line before the video ends. The footage is brief, making it unclear whether Kohli had already shaken hands with Conrad prior to the video’s start.

Background: The ‘Grovel’ Controversy

The controversy stems from comments made by Conrad after South Africa’s dominant Test victory in Guwahati, where he remarked that his team wanted the Indian players to “really grovel.” This term carries significant negative historical and racial connotations in cricket. It was famously used by then-England captain Tony Greig in 1976, a white South African, describing his intent to humiliate the West Indies team.

Conrad’s full remarks were:

“We obviously looked at how best we were going to use the new ball, because in the morning we still wanted a newish, hardish ball. What we felt is that when the shadows come across the wicket in the evening, there’s something in it for the quick bowlers, so we didn’t want to declare too early and not be able to use that. And then, obviously, we wanted the Indians 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, ‘Come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.’ So, so far so good, but we also know that they’re not just going to roll over; we’re going to have to be at our very best in the morning.”

This comment led to widespread backlash due to the deeply offensive nature of the word, adding a layer of tension between the two teams beyond their on-field contest.