India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has fired back at his Australian counterpart Andrew McDonald, who claimed that India tried to intimidate debutant Sam Konstas during the intense fifth Test at the SCG. McDonald expressed his concerns about a heated exchange between Konstas and India’s captain, Jasprit Bumrah, right after Usman Khawaja was dismissed on the last ball of Day 1.

McDonald described India's celebrations after the wicket, particularly their proximity to Konstas, as “quite intimidating.”

“I just checked in with him to see if he was alright,” McDonald said, reflecting on his conversation with Konstas after the incident. “Clearly, the way India celebrated was pretty intimidating. But it’s all within the rules and regulations of the game, and no charges have been filed.”

McDonald recognized that India's actions were within the rules, but he voiced his worries about the young player's mental health, suggesting that even if the behavior was legal, it might hurt Konstas' confidence.

On the flip side, Gambhir strongly dismissed these claims, labeling the idea of intimidation as “soft” and not in line with the spirit of the game. Known for his intense personality, Gambhir didn't hold back in his reply. "This is a tough sport for tough players. You can't be that soft, it's as straightforward as that. I didn’t see anything intimidating about it," he said.

He further explained the situation, emphasizing that Konstas shouldn’t have been interacting with Bumrah while Usman Khawaja was taking his time to get ready for the next ball.

"He had no business chatting with Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was preparing. That was up to the umpire and the batsman at the crease."

Australia clinches the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Even with all the chatter and tension during the game, Australia didn’t let it get to them. They went on to beat India by six wickets in the Sydney Test, taking back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade, finishing the series with a strong 3-1 win. This victory also booked Australia a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, while India’s loss knocked them out of contention for the WTC final in 2025.

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