After Andrew McDonald accused India of trying to intimidate teenager Sam Konstas, claiming the ICC have set a benchmark by not punishing the tourists, Indian coach Gautamn Gambhir has fired right back.
The Australian coach revealed on Saturday evening he moved to check on Konstas’ welfare on Friday night, after his on-field spat with India captain Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth-and-deciding Test at the SCG.
Of particular concern to McDonald was the fact several Indian players ran to celebrate in Konstas’ face after Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the last ball of day one.
The incident came after Virat Kohli was fined 20 per cent of his match fee in Melbourne on Boxing Day, after making unnecessary contact with the opener between overs.
Asked if he felt the needed to speak to Konstas about the on-field exchange with Bumrah, McDonald said he only did so to check on the 19-year-old.
“My conversation to him was just around whether he was okay,” McDonald said.
“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.
“To have an opposition to swarm the non-striker like that, we have a duty of care to make sure he is okay and in a headspace to go out the next day and perform.”
Asked whether he felt India had taken it too far by running towards Konstas, McDonald suggested a precedent had been set.
“It’s clear that it’s acceptable because there was no fines or punishment,” he said.
“I will leave that up to the ICC and Andy Pycroft as match referee and the umpires out there.
“If they thought it was satisfactory, then I suppose that is the benchmark we’re playing towards.”
However, speaking after India’s six-wicket loss that saw them relinquish the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gambhir had a fiery response, claiming Konstas ‘had no right’ to be speaking to Bumrah.
“It’s a tough sport played by tough men. You can’t be that soft,” he said.
“I don’t think there was anything intimidating about it. He had no right to be talking to Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time.
“He had no business to be involved with Jasprit Bumrah. That was the job of the umpire.”
Australian captain Pat Cummins has defended the 19-year-old from those who tried to “put (Konstas) back in his place” during a memorable first two Tests for Australia.
Cummins said he was “really impressed” Konstas had brought his confident self to both his batting and to India’s attempts to rile him.
“I think people mistake a bit of confidence for bullying or abuse,” the paceman said.
“You’re allowed to walk around with your shoulders puffed back and play a few cricket shots. I don’t think that’s illegal, but some people really take offence to that and want to put him pack in his place.
“We say the same to all our players, just bring yourself every day, be yourself, go about it how you think represents yourself the best and how you want to play.
“I think he’s been really good this series. He’s stood up for himself when he needed to.”
Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli celebrate with teammates after dismissing Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The day-one incident came after Khawaja had pulled away and made Bumrah wait to bowl as the clock ticked down towards stumps.
India believed Australia were stalling, prompting Bumrah to raise his arms aloft before he and non-striker Konstas exchanged words.
The pair then walked towards each other, before umpires intervened.
Speaking after play on Friday, Australia’s seamer Scott Boland said he had found it ‘pretty funny’ that a 19-year-old had ‘gotten under the whole Indian team’s skin’.
But India seamer Prasidh Krishna insisted at stumps on Saturday that was not the case, despite him being one of the first players to get in Konstas’ face.
“I don’t think so. Not yet. We enjoy the way that he plays the game and we would also like to play the game aggressively,” Prasidh said.
“Like if we have somebody who comes out and says, ‘I can fight you,’ it’s as a team we want to tell them, ‘you can’t take us for granted, we are all here, the 11 of us versus you’.
“If you can be as aggressive that’s fine.”
India’s loss leaves Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid as Indian coach in mid-2024, with six losses and just one win in his last eight Tests at the helm, having presided over a shock 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand in October.
© AAP