Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has accused the Indian team of trying to intimidate Sam Konstas during their aggressive celebration following Usman Khawaja's dismissal on the opening day of the Sydney Test.
The incident occurred late in the final over, when Jasprit Bumrah engaged in a verbal exchange with Konstas after Khawaja's efforts to ensure it would be the day's last over. Two balls later, Khawaja edged a delivery to slip, prompting Bumrah to celebrate animatedly while advancing toward Konstas in an apparent show of aggression.
McDonald later checked on Konstas, a 19-year-old debutant, to ensure the young player was not unsettled by the heated moment.
"My conversation with him was about whether he’s okay. The way India celebrated was clearly intimidating," McDonald said. "It’s within the laws of the game, but as a team, we have a duty of care to ensure our player is in the right headspace to perform."
When asked if India crossed a line, McDonald deferred judgment to the ICC. "There were no charges or fines, so I assume that’s the standard we’re playing towards," he added.
Konstas, who advanced to 23 on the second day before edging Mohammed Siraj to slip, handled Bumrah’s deliveries with confidence early on, showcasing his composure. However, Bumrah, stationed at mid-on during Konstas’ dismissal, appeared to walk in his direction rather than joining the Indian huddle.
India’s Prasidh Krishna defended his team’s aggressive stance, saying, "We enjoy playing the game aggressively. If someone challenges us, we want to show we’re here as a team, and we won’t be taken for granted."
This is not Konstas’ first brush with confrontation during the series. At the MCG, he was shoulder-barged by Virat Kohli during his knock of 60 off 65 balls in the first innings.
Ricky Ponting also weighed in on the controversy, criticizing Konstas for getting involved in the altercation between Khawaja and Bumrah.
"I didn’t like Konstas stepping into that situation," Ponting told Channel 7. "It wasn’t his battle to fight. He should have let his senior player handle it. When you play with the game, it has a way of coming back to bite you—just like it did for Khawaja."
Updated on 4th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.