Sam Konstas impressed everyone with his stroke play and tough-as-nails mindset on his Test debut. Taking the field for Australia for the first time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and that too for a Boxing Day Test against India, the 19-year-old looked at home. Not many can say they went toe-to-toe with Jasprit Bumrah, but Konstas certainly did that.
Virat Kohli vs Sam Konstas
He became the first player to score 15 runs off an over to Bumrah. Of his first fifty runs, 34 came against Bumrah, who went at over 6 runs per over in his first spell. But as things are when Team India plays, Virat Kohli was the talking point. His collision with Konstas is the talk of the town.
After the end of the 10th over, Kohli shoulder barged Konstas. The former Indian captain was already sledging the 19-year-old before the physical altercation, but things amped up even further. Konstas said some words back, but umpires and players intervened quickly to nip things in the bud.
Konstas plays down Kohli incident
After his innings came to an end, he was asked what he thought of the whole incident. “What about during that innings? A lot was going on. One of those moments was Virat Kohli, your favourite player in the world, and then all of a sudden you are in the thick of battle and he throws a little shoulder. What was being said out there?” Trent Copeland asked the 19-year-old.
“I think the emotions got to the both of us. I didn’t quite realise (it), I was doing my gloves. Then a little shoulder charge (came my way). It happens,” Konstas told Channel 7.