India have fired one last shot at Sam Konstas, calling Australia “soft” for suggesting Jasprit Bumrah and his teammates had intimidated the teenager during the decisive SCG Test. 

But captain Pat Cummins has defended the 19-year-old from those who tried to “put [Konstas] back in his place” during a memorable first two Tests for Australia.

After Australia’s six-wicket win that sealed victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India coach Gautam Gambhir insisted Konstas had “no right” to chirp at Bumrah and spark a confrontation that increased tensions to boiling point on day one.

The opening batter had seemingly attempted to waste time late in the day to guard against the chance of a wicket falling if another over was bowled under lights.

But the tactic backfired and Konstas found himself stormed by Indian players at the non-strikers end when Bumrah took Usman Khawaja’s wicket on the last ball of the day.

Andrew McDonald said he had checked on Konstas’s welfare after the “intimidating” episode, but Gambhir shrugged at the Australian coach’s concerns on Sunday.

“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 was nonchalant when asked for his opinions on Virat Kohli’s physical confrontation with Konstas at the MCG, where tensions between India and the teenager were first inflamed.

“Whatever happened, happened,” he said.

“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.”

Cummins said he was “really impressed” Konstas had brought his confident self to both his batting and to India’s attempts to rile him.

“I think people mistake a bit of confidence for bullying or abuse,” the paceman said.

“You’re allowed to walk around with your shoulders puffed back and play a few cricket shots. I don’t think that’s illegal, but some people really take offence to that and want to put him back in his place.

“We say the same to all our players, just bring yourself every day, be yourself, go about it how you think represents yourself the best and how you want to play.

“I think he’s been really good this series. He’s stood up for himself when he needed to.”

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

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

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

The teenager won hearts and minds for his dazzling ramp shots en route to a half-century in his first dig at the MCG, but could not parlay his aggressive approach into big scores in the three innings that followed.

He most notably slogged straight to Washington Sundar as Australia chased 162 for victory in the second innings at the SCG.

“Obviously Test cricket is all about improving every day and sometimes you can’t just go out there and keep smashing from ball one,” Gambhir said.

“You’ve got to respect red-ball cricket as well. Hopefully he learns from these experiences. When you’re playing against a high-quality attack like India, this will be a great learning for him going forward.”

AAP