India deals final blow to Australia, brands hosts 'soft' after big flashpoint at SCG

India fired a final shot at Sam Konstas, branding Australia “soft” for suggesting Jasprit Bumrah and his teammates had bullied the teenager during the decisive SCG Test.

After Australia's six-wicket win that sealed victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, coach Gautam Gambhir insisted Konstas had “no right” to chirp at Bumrah and provoke a confrontation that raised tensions to boiling point. the first day.

The 19-year-old opening batsman had apparently attempted to dawdle at the end of the day to guard against the possibility of a wicket falling if another over was bowled under the lights.

But the tactic backfired and Konstas found himself mobbed by Indian players on the non-striker's end when Bumrah took the wicket of Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the day.

Andrew McDonald said after the second day that he had checked on Konstas's well-being after the “intimidating” episode, but Gambhir shrugged off the Australian coach's concerns on Sunday.

'It's a tough sport played by tough men. You can't be so soft. As simple as possible,” he said.

Australia were branded “soft” after suggesting debutant Sam Konstas had “no right” to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah during the final Test.

Konstas (left) and Bumrah (right) exchanged words during testing on the first day of the Sydney Test.

India coach Gautam Gambhir (second from left) said “you can't be soft” in Test cricket and responded to Andrew McDonald's claims that he had to rein in Konstas after the incident.

'I don't think there's anything intimidating about it. He had no right to talk to Jasprit Bumrah while Usman Khawaja was taking some time. I didn't have any rights.

“He had no business being involved with Jasprit Bumrah, that was a job for the referee.”

Gambhir was nonchalant when asked his opinion on Virat Kohli's physical confrontation with Konstas at the MCG, where tensions between India and the teenager first flared.

“I think everything that has happened is history. What happened happened. It's a tough sport played by tough men and these things happen,” he said.

'I don't think we should make this a big deal.

'It is not just incidents that have occurred in this series. It has also happened in the past. Many Australian players have also done this in the past. We continue to give a lot of importance to these things.

Gambhir, primarily an opener in 58 Tests, said Konstas had potential at the highest level.

“That's why he's playing Test cricket,” he said.

The Indian coach seemed to suggest that Konstas had to learn some lessons from his first two Test matches.

Australia would win the Border Gavaskar series and retain the trophy after a 3-1 series win.

But the Indian coach suggested Konstas had lessons to learn from his first two Test matches.

The teenager won hearts and minds with his dazzling ramp shots en route to a half-century in his first dig at the MCG, but was unable to convert his aggressive approach into big scoring in the three innings that followed.

Notably, he headed straight for Washington Sundar as Australia chased 162 for victory in the second innings at the SCG.

“Obviously Test cricket is about getting better every day and sometimes you can't just go out and keep hitting from the first ball,” Gambhir said.

'Red-ball cricket must also be respected. I hope you learn from these experiences. “When you play against a high-quality attack like India, it will be a great learning for him in the future.”