MELBOURNE: Australia all rounder Simon Katich does not repent his angry exchanges with Gautam Gambhir during third Test in New Delhi, saying the India opener had initiated the "confrontation" with his unpleasant words.
Katich, who escaped censure from the match referee, said Gambhir accused him of blocking his way while going for a run.
"I turned around to see where the ball had gone, and (when I) looked up Gambhir was basically into me," Katich was quoted as saying in the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.
"Next thing you know the ball was coming back at the stumps so, having looked at the footage, I don't think I have done anything wrong. It's not like I have pushed him out of the way. My hands were up in the air and I just happened to be in his way. If anything, I probably saved (VVS) Laxman from being run out.
"If they had run I think he would have been run out. He's not the quickest bloke. Words were said, I didn't like it and that's what ticked me off. That's why there was a bit of confrontation," said Katich who had to be dragged away by vice-captain Michael Clarke and forced an intervention from umpire Billy Bowden who was seen speaking to skipper Ricky Ponting later on.
"I don't regret getting in a contest out there. I know 'Punter' probably wasn't happy with it all, which is fair enough because obviously captains come under scrutiny for all that, and I appreciate that, but it is one of those things that happens," said the Australia opener reacting to Ponting's request for calm from his players on the eve of the fourth and final Test in Nagpur.
Katich said the matter was since then forgotten and they have moved on.
"It was all done and dusted pretty quickly. I think I was one of the first blokes to congratulate him on his 200, and at the end of the day I don't think there was any damage done. It wasn't like we had a physical altercation."
Gambhir was suspended for one Test for elbowing Shane Watson while the Australian bowler was docked 10 per cent of his match fee.
