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On Sunday, January 5, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly responded to his Australian counterpart Andrew McDonald, who had hit out at the Indian team for “intimidating” Australian youngster Sam Konstas in the Sydney Test. The Australia head coach on Saturday, January 4 claimed that Indian attempted to intimidate Konstas during the tense finale in Sydney after the 19-year-old was seen getting into a heated exchange with Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
“My conversation to him was just around whether he was okay,” McDonald said when discussing his check-in with Konstas after the altercation. “Clearly the way that India celebrated that it was quite intimidating. It’s clearly within the rules and regulations of the game, as there have been no charges laid,” he had added.
I don't think there was anything intimidating about it: Gautam Gambhir
Speaking at the post-match press conference in Sydney, Gautam Gambhir firmly rejected Andrew McDonald’s claims. "It’s a tough sport played by tough men. You can't be that soft, as simple as it can get. I don't think there was anything intimidating about it," Gambhir stated. He went on to clarify the context of the altercation, pointing out that Konstas had no business engaging with Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time to prepare for the next delivery.
"He had no right to be talking to Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time. He had no business talking to Bumrah. It was the job of the umpire and the guy who was batting at the end," he further added, hitting out at the 19-year-old Australian debutant.
Watch Gautam Gambhir hit out at Sam Konstas for getting involved in heated exchange with Bumrah:
It is to be noted that despite making bold claims on the Indian cricket team, Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the visitor’s actions were well within the rules and the rest remains in the hands of the ICC. “It’s clear that’s acceptable because there was no fines or punishments, so I’ll leave that up the ICC - Andy Pycroft being the match referee - and the umpires out there. If they thought it was satisfactory then I suppose that’s the benchmark we are playing towards,” McDonald had earlier reiterated.
