'It's a tough sport played by tough men': Gautam Gambhir's strong retort to Australia head coach's allegations of intimidating Sam Konstas

Sports Tak

Sports Tak

UPDATED:

'It's a tough sport played by tough men': Gautam Gambhir's strong retort to Australia head coach's allegations of intimidating Sam Konstas
Gautam Gambhir during the post-series press conference; Jasprit Bumrah celebrates a wicket while Sam Konstas walks off the field at SCG.

Story Highlights:

Sam Konstas was involved in an altercation with Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja and turned to Konstas to celebrate.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald accused Indian team of intimidating Sam Konstas.

Indian team's head coach Gautam Gambhir responded to opposition head coach Andrew McDonald's accusations of intimidating teenager Sam Konstas. At the end of Day 1's play, Konstas had an altercation with captain Jasprit Bumrah as he tried to back his opening partner Usman Khawaja who was engaging in time-wasting tactics. India wanted another over before the day's play but the altercation prevented that. However, Bumrah dismissed Khawaja and the whole team turned to Konstas as they celebrated. McDonald accused the Indian team of intimidating Konstas to which Gambhir said that it is a "tough sport".

"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 told the reporters in the press conference after the six-wicket defeat at Sydney Cricket Ground. 

 

 

 

"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 and probably the guy who was batting at the end," he added.

 

 

Earlier, McDonald had revealed that he had a conversation with the teenager Konstas to ensure if he's okay. Also, he admitted that the Indian players cannot be reprimanded for celebrating Khawaja's wicket by charging towards Konstas.

ALSO READ: Brett Lee gives massive update on Jasprit Bumrah's injury and it is not what Prasidh Krishna said in press conference

"My conversation with him was around whether he's okay. Clearly, the way India celebrated that was quite intimidating," McDonald said. "It's clearly within the laws of the game, the rules and regulations. There's been no charges laid, but to have an opposition swarm the non-striker like that, we've got a duty of care to our player to make sure he's okay and in a headspace to go out there and perform."

 

 

ALSO READ: Provoked by Australian crowd, Virat Kohli trolls them by imitating the sandpaper act in over after Steve Smith's dismissal; video goes viral

"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 added.

 

 

Meanwhile, Australia ended their series win drought in Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Pat Cummins-led side won the series 3-1 and cemented their place in World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final.