Virat Kohli once again found himself at the centre of attention, despite playing a limited role in India’s ongoing ODI series against South Africa. After India’s win in the 1st ODI in Ranchi, a short clip from the stadium stairway has gone viral, showing Kohli completely ignoring South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad. No handshake, no nod, not even eye contact Kohli walked past as if Conrad wasn’t present at all.
The incident has triggered a wave of reactions online, with many connecting it to Conrad’s controversial “grovel” remark made after the Guwahati Test. Conrad had said, “We really wanted them to grovel,” a comment that drew immediate criticism across the Indian cricket fraternity. Former players like Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel and Anil Kumble slammed the statement, while Sunil Gavaskar called it “ill-advised” and demanded an apology. Even South Africa captain Temba Bavuma had hinted that a line had been crossed, drawing parallels with previous on-field taunts involving Indian players.
Kohli wasn’t part of that Test match, nor was he even in India at the time. Yet the Ranchi video makes it clear that he was well aware of the controversy and had not forgotten it. Interestingly, Gautam Gambhir too reportedly received a similar cold reaction from Kohli, highlighting the tension in India’s dressing-room dynamics.
While some fans feel Kohli’s behaviour was justified due to Conrad’s disrespectful comment, others believe a senior player of his stature should maintain professionalism irrespective of personal opinions. With more clips emerging and experts weighing in, the debate over player-coach respect, cricketing etiquette, and emotional reactions appears far from settled.
As India prepares for the remaining matches of the series, the spotlight is no longer just on performances, but also on body language, gestures, and the unseen relationships shaping the game behind the scenes.
