India, Dec. 7 -- South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad on Saturday acknowledged that his use of the word "grovel" during the Guwahati Test had overshadowed his team's landmark red-ball triumph over India, conceding that he would have chosen his words differently had he been more mindful of how the remark might be interpreted.

Speaking after India sealed the ODI series 2-1-having earlier lost the Test series 0-2-Conrad said the term, which carries historical and racial undertones in South Africa, had "taken the sheen" off what should have been a moment of celebration for his Test side.

"On reflection, it was never my intention to cause any malice or be anything other than humble," Conrad said. "Could I have been smarter with the word I u...