India coach Gautam Gambhir gave a befitting reply to Australia head coach Andrew McDonald saying that Indian team’s celebrations near Sam Konstas intimidated the teenager during the Sydney Test of recent BGT 2024.

Since making his debut in Melbourne, Konstas has had a few run-ins with the tourists. The most heated moment occurred on Day 1 of the match at the SCG, when he had a confrontation with Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah then proceeded to celebrate in front of Konstas after dismissing Usman Khawaja with the following ball, with the rest of his teammates joining in. After Day 2, Australia coach Andrew McDonald commented on the situation, claiming that the Indians were trying to intimidate the youngster, which Gambhir refuted.

During the post-match press conference, India's coach stated that the sport is played by tough men who cannot be soft. Gambhir claimed that Konstas had no right to be talking to Bumrah at the moment.

"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. He had no right to be talking to Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time. He had no right. He had no business to be involved with Jasprit Bumrah, that was a job for the umpire,” Gambhir stated.

Gambhir would also dismiss the confrontation between Virat Kohli and Konstas in the Melbourne Test, saying there was no need to make a big deal out of it. The Indian coach stated that Australian players have done the same in the past.

"I think whatever has happened is history. Whatever happened. It is a tough sport played by tough men and these things happen. I don't think we need to make a big issue out of it. It is not just incidents that have happened in this series. It has happened in the past as well. A lot of Australian players in the past have done it as well. We keep making a big deal out of these things,” he added.

Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 against India with victory in the Sydney Test.