India captain Anil Kumble [Images] says he harbours no ill feelings towards Australia's players after last week's bad-tempered second Test and wants to meet with Ricky Ponting [Images] to clear up any differences.

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Australia's news agency AAP reported that Kumble had asked Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to settle the Harbhajan Singh [Images] racial abuse allegation without making a formal complaint.

However Ponting told him he had already spoken to the umpires about the incident.

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"When that incident happened I did make a request to Ricky Ponting that it should be handled, if it can be sorted out, whatever," Kumble said.

"His response was that it had already been reported.

"Having played cricket for this long, (I knew) such an allegation would definitely spiral into what it has now. I anticipated that it would spiral into a larger issue.

"There is an appeal that has been made so we are hopeful we get the right decision.

"From what I gather from my two team-mates from the Indian side who were on the field, that remark was never made.

"People believe that a word was said, which was not said.

"It has been tough. It has been very difficult because it's a very serious issue.

"The entire team is together on this and has really backed him.

"I am really proud of that fact and I'd like to thank the BCCI for fully backing us.

"We are all with Bhaji (Harbhajan). It's not easy but he seems to be in a good mood."

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The Australians also say Symonds was called a "monkey" by Harbhajan in the one-day series in India in October and the big Queenslander had approached his Indian rival in the dressing rooms after the game and explained it was a racially insulting term.

But Kumble said Harbhajan had told him that incident also did not happen.

Kumble admitted he was upset at some of the actions of Australia's players during the match but did not hold any grudges.

"It was only meant for the Sydney game," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "I have great respect and regard for all the players who play for Australia.

"It was just one of those incidents which everybody has seen."

Kumble accused the Australians of breaching the spirit of cricket in a comment that evoked memories of Bill Woodfull's claims against the English in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.

"Only one team played in the spirit of the game," Kumble had said in the post-match press conference.

The Australians have defended their actions, saying they played the game hard but fair, and have been backed up by Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland.

The International Cricket Council has appointed a mediator to speak with Kumble and Ponting before the next match but the Indian said he was more than happy to meet with him.

"It's important that Ricky and I get together and address it," he said. "On behalf of my team, I can assure that we will play in the right spirit.

"It will be a hard-fought match. It's important that whatever cricket that we play is remembered."