South Africa coach Conrad: Beating India in Kolkata up there with WTC title win
South African coach Shukri Conrad labelled his side’s win against India in the opening Test, at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, as one of its best victories in recent times.
The Proteas pipped the home team by 30 runs in a nervy finish on the third day of the series opener in Kolkata.
“We won the World Test Championship final earlier in the year against Australia at Lord’s, but this is right up there for us,” said Conrad at the post-match press conference.
“Coming to India, playing at Eden Gardens, doing something we haven’t done for 15 years. This is right up there. We might not have the ability that a lot of teams have. But we certainly make up for it with our ability to play as a unit and the resilience and belief that we show, and that we never give up. I am so proud of the group,” said Conrad.
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The result was extra sweet for South Africa as it was its first Test win in India in more than 15 years. But Conrad emphasised that the task is only half done.
“It will do wonders for our psyche, going forward. We won a Test match in Pakistan; we’ve now won a Test match here. But the job is far from done. You don’t come to a country to win a Test match; you obviously want to win the series.
“So I’m sure the boys will celebrate on. We’ve got two extra days to recover. Guwahati [the venue for the second Test] will present its own challenges, and I’m pretty certain and quietly confident that we’ll be up to the task there as well,” said Conrad.
The South African coach, just like his Indian counterpart Gautam Gambhir, chose not to point fingers at the Eden Gardens pitch.
“I think when you come to India and the subcontinent, you expect wickets like this. So I don’t have a problem with wickets like this. You’ve still got to play well, you’ve got to bat well, you’ve got to find a way.
“That’s why it’s a home series. You’ve got to find ways of giving your side the winning edge. Again, I don’t have an issue with wickets like this. You’ve got to come out and find a way, and thankfully, we found a way.
“It’s more of a mental battle than a battle of your technique, because you just feel you don’t know where your next run is coming from. Sometimes you start doubting your technique. But, I think it’s more of a mentality thing than a technical thing,” added Conrad.
Published on Nov 16, 2025
