"We wanted them to really grovel": South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad

[BouncerGuy]

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad speaking during the post-play press conference, when asked why South Africa batted for nearly 80 overs:

"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 the game and then say to them well come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening."

"There were a few factors. We obviously were looking at how best we are going to use the new ball, so that in the morning we still get a newish, hard ball."

"We felt that when the shadows come across the pitch 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 (with hard ball).”

"And then obviously we wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field."

"So far so good but we also know they are just not going to roll over. We have to be at our very best tomorrow but those are the factors that we considered here."

"Some people would say you batted for too long. I don't think it is. I don't think there's a right and a wrong in anything. We wanted India to come out again after that second break and again spend time on their feet."

"Their bowlers spent a lot of time out there. We saw the effects of batting for two full days in the first innings and what sort of effect it had on them.”

"Yeah it was never going to be easy for the opening batters to come this evening (with) especially new ball shadows across the wicket."

"So if tomorrow evening, it comes that we have them eight down and people say well see 'we told you so'. Well, I mean we have got to base it on our sound judgment and if that doesn't work out well, it doesn't."

 

[BouncerGuy]

Back in 1976, England captain Tony Greig used the word “grovel” before a home Test series against West Indies. The remark was seen as racially loaded and deeply offensive, especially given the colonial backdrop. The West Indies responded on the field with ferocious fast bowling, dominating England and turning the phrase into a symbol of defiance.

This is what Tony Greig said: “I'm not really sure they're as good as everyone thinks," he said. “These guys, if they get on top they are magnificent cricketers. But if they're down, they grovel, and I intend, with the help of Closey [Brian Close] and a few others, to make them grovel."



History shows why words matter. “Grovel” wasn’t just trash talk—it carried ugly undertones. The West Indies turned that insult into fuel, and the series became legendary.

 

[Major]

lol Indians trying to copy others. Funny how after this Grovel comment, they will now act as if they are the West indies. The kumars equivalating themselves to the likes of Holding etc.

Good comments made by the Sa head coach. They really did made the indians to Grovel.

 

[Major]

MEanwhile im loving the over reaction in India. This is what you get when you call others a Boona. Now these guys are whining

 

[TheSultan]

Back in 1976, England captain Tony Greig used the word “grovel” before a home Test series against West Indies. The remark was seen as racially loaded and deeply offensive, especially given the colonial backdrop. The West Indies responded on the field with ferocious fast bowling, dominating England and turning the phrase into a symbol of defiance.

This is what Tony Greig said: “I'm not really sure they're as good as everyone thinks," he said. “These guys, if they get on top they are magnificent cricketers. But if they're down, they grovel, and I intend, with the help of Closey [Brian Close] and a few others, to make them grovel."



History shows why words matter. “Grovel” wasn’t just trash talk—it carried ugly undertones. The West Indies turned that insult into fuel, and the series became legendary.

And India rolled over like a pack of cards. Levels

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Interesting word choice and quite surprised at reaction from Indians. They were very hurt by this.

 

[Devadwal]

Nothing wrong with this statement. Ab har bat ko dil pe loge kya. Kya yar hare hai to kuch bhi ?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Nothing wrong with this statement. Ab har bat ko dil pe loge kya. Kya yar hare hai to kuch bhi ?

Nice...

 

[Independent Observer]

The good ol' Chinese water torture technique applied by the Saffers..

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

It seems they wanted to punish the Indian team for calling Bavuma names along with the usual 'helping verbs'.

 

[zaidihusain]

Does this mean Pakistan did better than India against SA drawing their test series 1-1?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

How humiliating. And then actually following through with it and beating them with 1.5 sessions remaining in the test match. Gotta love this level of confidence from the head-coach.

 

[Independent Observer]

How humiliating. And then actually following through with it and beating them with 1.5 sessions remaining in the test match. Gotta love this level of confidence from the head-coach.

Don't worry bro, like that Indian poster using a Pakistani username said, India will be unstoppable in cricket soon. No team will be able to compete with them soon. All roads lead to an Indian dynasty in cricket.

 

[TheSultan]

It seems they wanted to punish the Indian team for calling Bavuma names along with the usual 'helping verbs'.

Very well done by SA. Kept quiet and then responded like a boss

 

[BouncerGuy]

Dale Steyn speaking on Cricket Live before the start of Day 5:

“I’m not on that boat. I don’t like it. Honestly, I almost don’t want to respond. Some things simply shouldn’t be said. That word carries stigma. It wasn’t needed at all. South Africa was already completely in control—silence would’ve been enough. I just don’t agree with it.”

“Maybe his tone wasn’t like Tony Greig’s, but that changes nothing. It’s a word you should never bring up. Leave it aside. It was disappointing. I’m sorry, Shukri, but it was disappointing.”

 

[BouncerGuy]

Temba Bavuma speaking at the post-match press conference when asked about the comment that sparked a controversy:

"Comments made by the coach came to me this morning. I was focused on the game and didn't have a chance to speak to him. Shukri is close to 60 years old, and he will have a look at his comments."

"But in this series, certain guys have also crossed the line. Not saying coach crossed the line, but he will surely think about it."

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

"But in this series, certain guys have also crossed the line. Not saying coach crossed the line, but he will surely think about it."

Is he talking about Bumrah?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Does "grovel" have any negative connotations in India the same way it may have done for black West Indies players?

I have seen some speculate that Indians are touchy about this word after their request to Donald Trump for a ceasefire during the obliteration they faced in Bunyan-e-marsos. Does it go beyond this too?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

lol Indians trying to copy others. Funny how after this Grovel comment, they will now act as if they are the West indies. The kumars equivalating themselves to the likes of Holding etc.

Good comments made by the Sa head coach. They really did made the indians to Grovel.

This was perfect language for the Indians. They needed to be reminded of their historic standing.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Is he talking about Bumrah?

Yes... Who else

 

[oatmeal]

Poor choice by the coach . Grovel is a very loaded word in cricket history. I think the bauna comment really riled up the South African side.

In Sports you have to respect the opposing players and team

 

[Major]

Does "grovel" have any negative connotations in India the same way it may have done for black West Indies players?

I have seen some speculate that Indians are touchy about this word after their request to Donald Trump for a ceasefire during the obliteration they faced in Bunyan-e-marsos. Does it go beyond this too?

Nope.

Indians watched a documentary or some one indian remembered an old news controversy, and they decided to go crazy.

Not knowing what the word meant or its connection to black people.

Its like when someone may have called an indian an N word and that indian may have gone crazy.

Anyways, the lack of understanding of English Language is in full display.

Still i find it funny that, when the word was used against the West Indies, that resulted in their pace attack uniting. Than i imagine the Indians in comparison to those tall West Indian beasts, and i get this image of bunch of skinny kumars standing next to each other.

Like in that 83 movie of kapil dev, one funny scene was when one indian player gets mesmerized seeing the West Indies pace bowlers at an event and he goes on hello sar, holding sar, sar sar sar.....

 

[Usman Chadda]

Well they did make them grovel, no two ways about it.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Nope.

Indians watched a documentary or some one indian remembered an old news controversy, and they decided to go crazy.

Not knowing what the word meant or its connection to black people.

Its like when someone may have called an indian an N word and that indian may have gone crazy.

Anyways, the lack of understanding of English Language is in full display.

Still i find it funny that, when the word was used against the West Indies, that resulted in their pace attack uniting. Than i imagine the Indians in comparison to those tall West Indian beasts, and i get this image of bunch of skinny kumars standing next to each other.

Like in that 83 movie of kapil dev, one funny scene was when one indian player gets mesmerized seeing the West Indies pace bowlers at an event and he goes on hello sar, holding sar, sar sar sar.....

I thought it may have been a very serious consideraing the Indians that love free speech and providing context, and did gymnastics to defend useage of Bauna, or when Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey were not doing gymnastics to defend Shukri Saheb.

 

[ads101]

Was poor choice of words. Then again India also had some poor choice of words against Bavuma. And the sa coach probably just meant he wanted India to suffer, there’s no malice. While Indians were actually mocking bavuma, albeit amongst themselves.

 

[RamLakhan]

I think modern Indian Cricketers (led by Gill, SKY, etc) should tone down their behaviour and attitude... Now it looks like Kohli (ultra-aggressive on field but never used to abuse opposition mostly) and Rohit (aggressive & at times abusive on his own team mates but never did the same to opposition) were million dollars better than these next gen... And this affects your own concentration and even can spark the opposition... I think for some time Indian Cricket is going to suffer a decline...

 

[sweep_shot]

South Africa indeed made them to grovel.

 

[Rafale Nidhal Fan]

indians just trying to divert attention, fact is they lost 2-0 and they need to start the rework by kicking out this banana coach

 

[hassan918]

I think modern Indian Cricketers (led by Gill, SKY, etc) should tone down their behaviour and attitude... Now it looks like Kohli (ultra-aggressive on field but never used to abuse opposition mostly) and Rohit (aggressive & at times abusive on his own team mates but never did the same to opposition) were million dollars better than these next gen... And this affects your own concentration and even can spark the opposition... I think for some time Indian Cricket is going to suffer a decline...

It was never easy to replace the likes of Kohli and Sharma.

 

[sweep_shot]

indians just trying to divert attention, fact is they lost 2-0 and they need to start the rework by kicking out this banana coach

They lost 10 out of their last 17 Tests.

Instead of addressing and correcting it, they are getting defensive and bringing up wins from 5 years ago. LOL.

 

[Obaidd]

indians just trying to divert attention, fact is they lost 2-0 and they need to start the rework by kicking out this banana coach

Some have written paras and paras of analysis without even naming GG.

 

[Rafale Nidhal Fan]

They lost 10 out of their last 17 Tests.

Instead of addressing and correcting it, they are getting defensive and bringing up wins from 5 years ago. LOL.

"This is exactly what transition is" - indian coach

 

[Katwalindian]

They lost 10 out of their last 17 Tests.

Instead of addressing and correcting it, they are getting defensive and bringing up wins from 5 years ago. LOL.

The players in their lineup like sai, dhruv...these are no 3 and 4...even zimbabwe team will say thank you to them ..have their no better option in domestics?

 

[sweep_shot]

I think more and more teams may make India to grovel in Test.

This Indian team are likely to lose to Australia, NZ, and South Africa both home and away.

They may draw with England because England have declined.

They may beat SL at home but I expect them to lose against SL in SL.

I also expect them to lose a Test in Mirpur if they play there.

India have officially become a mid-tier Test team.

 

[Hitman]

Is he the second coming of the now deceased Tony Greig?

 

[TheSultan]

context, context, context

Tony Greig (from a team who had control over cricketing matters) was talking about a less influential team with all the negative connotations of race at the time (there’s also Tony greig’s South African connection - which was an apartheid regime at the time).

Shukri was making a statement against a team that is widely considered the owner of the ICC.

Massive difference

Shukri was making an anti imperialistic statement that will resonate with resistance groups.

 

[Snowflake]

Does this mean Pakistan did better than India against SA drawing their test series 1-1?

Does what mean that?

I think the scoreline is all you need to know.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Sunil Gavaskar said referring to South Africa coach remark that he wanted India to grovel on the field during second Test in Guwahati recently:

"When you consider the current landscape of South African cricket, especially the SA20, five out of the six franchises (all six) 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,"

"You could say it was an ill-advised use of the word. 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, Indian and South African cricket have shared a positive, collaborative relationship for decades."

"Across all the years and encounters between the two teams, cricket has always been competitive and tough, but never hostile. 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. 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. 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."

 

[sweep_shot]

Sunil Gavaskar said referring to South Africa coach remark that he wanted India to grovel on the field during second Test in Guwahati recently:

"When you consider the current landscape of South African cricket, especially the SA20, five out of the six franchises (all six) 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,"

"You could say it was an ill-advised use of the word. 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, Indian and South African cricket have shared a positive, collaborative relationship for decades."

"Across all the years and encounters between the two teams, cricket has always been competitive and tough, but never hostile. 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. 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. 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."

LOL. Gavaskar is feeling salty.

South Africa indeed made India to grovel.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Sunil Gavaskar said referring to South Africa coach remark that he wanted India to grovel on the field during second Test in Guwahati recently:

"When you consider the current landscape of South African cricket, especially the SA20, five out of the six franchises (all six) 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,"

"You could say it was an ill-advised use of the word. 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, Indian and South African cricket have shared a positive, collaborative relationship for decades."

"Across all the years and encounters between the two teams, cricket has always been competitive and tough, but never hostile. 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. 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. 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."

so basically, we (Indians) give you money, therefore you can't say anything negative about us?

Firstly, for him to even bring race into it by connecting this to Greig's usage of the word, just reminds you how badly he is lost his marbles because Shukri is a person of color.

Shukri insulted the Indian cricket team, and then followed it up by having his team humiliate them on the field. If you have the cojones, then do the same to his team when you tour South Africa next time. Crying about 'Shukri said something negative about us', just makes you come across as a sore loser that is having trouble coping.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Sunil Gavaskar said referring to South Africa coach remark that he wanted India to grovel on the field during second Test in Guwahati recently:

"When you consider the current landscape of South African cricket, especially the SA20, five out of the six franchises (all six) 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,"

Indians shouldn't be surprised why everyone in the cricketing world hates India when you when prominent, well-known Indians make statements like these.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Gavaskar is confused.

Just because he is on the BCCI payroll and can't criticise doesn't mean the rest of the world feels the same.

I thought this type of mindset was from unedcuated Indian people but it looks like this rotten mindset infects their country from top to bottom.

 

[RexRex]

Gavaskar is such a bore. He sucks the joy out of life with his constant outrage.

 

[Major]

context, context, context

Tony Greig (from a team who had control over cricketing matters) was talking about a less influential team with all the negative connotations of race at the time (there’s also Tony greig’s South African connection - which was an apartheid regime at the time).

Shukri was making a statement against a team that is widely considered the owner of the ICC.

Massive difference

Shukri was making an anti imperialistic statement that will resonate with resistance groups.

When Mumbai attacks took place, there was a section in India that were going crazy, not about the attacks, but the fact that someone had said Mumbai attacks were Indias 9/11. Some Indian celebrities came on media and said there is no India 9/11 we have our own 26/11.

Point is, these guys like attentions and tend to take things out of context normally. They like imagining themselves as a big power where the world is against them and they have to fight everyone.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

lol Indians trying to copy others. Funny how after this Grovel comment, they will now act as if they are the West indies. The kumars equivalating themselves to the likes of Holding etc.

Good comments made by the Sa head coach. They really did made the indians to Grovel.

Amazing that the Abdul's are out here in fine voice when the match or the comment had nothing to do with them...but then its understandable with the 'begaani shaadi mein xyz deewana' default settings.....

Now that Shukri Conrad has issued his clarification about the context and usage of his word - that's an epic face slam on your celebrations as you cleary celebrated a context that never was but fitted your one sided narrative

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Indians shouldn't be surprised why everyone in the cricketing world hates India when you when prominent, well-known Indians make statements like these.

i personally dont like the throwing of money weight and the whole franchisee ownership thing, and there are millions of indian who dont either...so as per you when the word 'grovel' is used in a -ve context, every indian and their aunt has to just sit, smile sweetly and stare at the rainbows overhead....

and go easy with why everyone in the cricketing world hates india - there are some opinions about your lot that you would not want to hear, from the cricketing world - leave alone outside the cricketing world.

Redwood bro - dont get me wrong - i really enjoy your thought provoking posts, your analysis most of the time - sorry - am not with you on this one

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

context, context, context

Tony Greig (from a team who had control over cricketing matters) was talking about a less influential team with all the negative connotations of race at the time (there’s also Tony greig’s South African connection - which was an apartheid regime at the time).

Shukri was making a statement against a team that is widely considered the owner of the ICC.

Massive difference

Shukri was making an anti imperialistic statement that will resonate with resistance groups.

lolll.....same old gheesapeeta Saazish template on overdrive with the victim ka tadka, keep your chimney open, Mate for the next two odd weeks or so -santa exists and bringing his tohfa for ya...

 

[sweep_shot]

South Africa made India to grovel when it mattered (i.e., the Test series).

Many teams may make India to grovel in Tests moving forward.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

i personally dont like the throwing of money weight and the whole franchisee ownership thing, and there are millions of indian who dont either...so as per you when the word 'grovel' is used in a -ve context, every indian and their aunt has to just sit, smile sweetly and stare at the rainbows overhead....

and go easy with why everyone in the cricketing world hates india - there are some opinions about your lot that you would not want to hear, from the cricketing world - leave alone outside the cricketing world.

Redwood bro - dont get me wrong - i really enjoy your thought provoking posts, your analysis most of the time - sorry - am not with you on this one

Might be hard for you to hear but that's the truth. It goes without saying that it doesn't apply to all Indians, but enough important Indians in cricket have this opinion so people shouldn't be surprised why India is not well-liked in cricket.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It surprises me how soft everyone has become. Now a coach can't even taunt the opposition team without fifty different people putting his statement under the microscope. People need to grow up and stop taking everything so seriously. It's a sport, this is part of the entertainment. Certain people want to take all the fun out of cricket.

 

[uppercut]

context, context, context

Tony Greig (from a team who had control over cricketing matters) was talking about a less influential team with all the negative connotations of race at the time (there’s also Tony greig’s South African connection - which was an apartheid regime at the time).

Shukri was making a statement against a team that is widely considered the owner of the ICC.

Massive difference

Shukri was making an anti imperialistic statement that will resonate with resistance groups.

Here is a cricketing history lesson which is worth learning on your own time ( because you are not worth my time ) : India's role in getting SA Isolated from the ICC ( or otherwise ).

 

[Champ_Pal]

Indian Test team is at its weakest state in the last decade or so. Batting is shaky and can’t even score 200 even against average bowlers.

Young Indian test batters have a lot to learn.

 

[sweep_shot]

When Australia tour India next time, I expect Australia to make India to grovel.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Here is a cricketing history lesson which is worth learning on your own time ( because you are not worth my time ) : India's role in getting SA Isolated from the ICC ( or otherwise ).

And also,

There's also a story about India being the first nation to recognize Cricket South africa's right to return to the mainfold in 1990 after their isolation when the apartheid era ended in SAF - when Nelson Mandela was released from prison and players of all races and colours were given equal rights to represent SAF in every sport including cricket.

India also actively campaigned for SAF tours to start post apartheid.

India was also the first nation that SAF toured - ODI series in 1991 end just before the start of the 1992 WC.

India was also the first nation to tour SAF - 1992, first nation to play an ODI series, first nation to play tests after their return from isolation.

Sadly, this sort of thing will never be recognized....same old default settings....

and these guys are going gung ho about the whole 'grovel' thing when Conrad Shukri has cleary explained what he was referring to which is so removed from what these guys are jumping about like ants are in their pants that they cannot recognize the epic thappad delivered to them.

There is only so much you can argue when minds are closed.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

It surprises me how soft everyone has become. Now a coach can't even taunt the opposition team without fifty different people putting his statement under the microscope. People need to grow up and stop taking everything so seriously. It's a sport, this is part of the entertainment. Certain people want to take all the fun out of cricket.

Bro - no prob with a coach taunting the opposition team, that is part and parcel of competitive sport. We defo do not expect a coach to say 'our guys are here for the scenery and hope we dont get toasted on ice everytime we step out on the field'. Its the whole narrative how 'certain' guys on PP adopted Shukri Conrad as their latest abbu and use the word 'grovel' as some kind of resitance against their perceived zulm or basically having nothing to do with this but just gloat on this word to negatively diss off their fav team - our fav Canadian - case in point in fine voice as above....
Conrad Shukri himself has later clarified that he regretted usage of this word and could have used a better choice of words and as most rational minds would agree- a regret is generally more sincere than an apology borne out of the emotion of the moment. i rest me case on this.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Bro - no prob with a coach taunting the opposition team, that is part and parcel of competitive sport. We defo do not expect a coach to say 'our guys are here for the scenery and hope we dont get toasted on ice everytime we step out on the field'. Its the whole narrative how 'certain' guys on PP adopted Shukri Conrad as their latest abbu and use the word 'grovel' as some kind of resitance against their perceived zulm or basically having nothing to do with this but just gloat on this word to negatively diss off their fav team - our fav Canadian - case in point in fine voice as above....
Conrad Shukri himself has later clarified that he regretted usage of this word and could have used a better choice of words and as most rational minds would agree- a regret is generally more sincere than an apology borne out of the emotion of the moment. i rest me case on this.

Well look, I can't really speak to what other people are saying, just what I'm saying, and for me it was nice to see a coach of an opposition side exude this kind of confidence on a tour to India which historically has been a very difficult place to tour. I feel like too many times people fixate on this being the 'gentleman's game', which is such a dated colonial idea. Sportsmanship should always be there, but so should this kind of fire and competitive spirit. So for everyone to get so up in arms about it all was disappointing to see because it really was not the inflammatory statement it was made out to be.

Also, I don't see what's so wrong with the idea of someone dissing a particular team if they don't like said team? There are alot of Indian posters on this forum whom I have seen say some pretty hateful things about the Pakistani team, and sometimes by extension, Pakistanis too. Alot of it happened during the Asia Cup actually, but it never bothered me because I don't care about their opinion, and ultimately it doesn't matter because none of it will change the actual ground realities that the team in question is facing, but hey, that's just me.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I think more and more teams may make India to grovel in Test.

This Indian team are likely to lose to Australia, NZ, and South Africa both home and away.

They may draw with England because England have declined.

They may beat SL at home but I expect them to lose against SL in SL.

I also expect them to lose a Test in Mirpur if they play there.

India have officially become a mid-tier Test team.

No matter how bad India gets , it doesn't look like they are going to lose a Test to Bangladesh

 

[sweep_shot]

India have been made to grovel by many nations in their history.

Kenya made India to grovel in 2001.
Zimbabwe made India to grovel in 1999 WC.
Bangladesh made India to grovel in 2007 WC, 2012 Asia Cup, 2015 series, and 2022 series.
Australia made India to grovel 90% of the time.
Pakistan made India to grovel from 1947 till 2017 CT.
NZ made India to grovel in 2019 WC, 2000 CT, 2021 WTC, and in the recent Test series.
Windies made India to grovel from 1950's till 1983, 2002 Test series, 1998 CT, and 2016 World T20.
South Africa made India to grovel in 2000 and 2025.
England made India to grovel in 2012 Test series, 2019 WC etc.
SL made India to grovel in the 1990's and 2000's (including the infamous 1996 WC semi final).