Kohli acquired important backlash for his shoulder bump with Konstas throughout the match and was fined 20 p.c of his match charges.
Australia batter Sam Konstas rapidly grew to become a fan favourite throughout the Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney in opposition to India over the previous two weeks, however he wasn’t precisely embraced by the Indian camp. The drama began with an incident involving Virat Kohli throughout the Boxing Day match. However, after the sport, he sought out his idol and was greatly surprised by Kohli’s response.
In the MCG Test, Konstas made a outstanding debut, shaking up the Indian workforce within the opening session. Facing off in opposition to the formidable Jasprit Bumrah, one of many world’s prime pacers who had been essential for India within the sequence, the younger participant confirmed unbelievable bravery and ability, scoring 34 runs off 60 balls in opposition to Bumrah, together with two ramp pictures for boundaries. The 19-year-old even inspired the Melbourne crowd with his efficiency.
To add to the strain, Konstas discovered himself in a verbal spat with Kohli after the previous Indian captain deliberately bumped shoulders with him whereas he was heading to the opposite finish of the crease at the tip of the tenth over.
Sam Konstas on Virat Kohli
“I had a little chat after game, telling him I idolise him & it’s obviously a huge honour playing against him. He’s very down to earth, a lovely person & wished me all the best, said hopefully I go well on tour of Sri Lanka.”pic.twitter.com/2J6eiRi3uF
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) January 8, 2025
In a complete interview with CODE Sports, the 19-year-old shared that after the match in Melbourne, he had a dialog with Kohli, expressing to the 36-year-old that he appears as much as him as an idol.
“I had a little chat after the game telling him that I idolise him, and it is obviously a huge honour playing against him,” Konstas mentioned.
“When I did verse him, I was like, ‘wow, Virat Kohli is batting.’ He just had that presence about him, all the Indian crowd getting amongst it. Chanting his name. It was quite surreal,” he added.
Konstas shared that Virat is a “down to earth” particular person and wished him good luck.
“He was very down to earth. A lovely person and just wishing me all the best saying hopefully I go well on the tour of Sri Lanka he said if I am in,” he mentioned.
“My whole family loves Virat. I have idolised him from a young age and he is a legend of the game,” he concluded.
Kohli acquired important backlash for his shoulder bump with Konstas throughout the match and was fined 20 p.c of his match charges. Australia in the end triumphed within the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy sequence, successful 3-1 and securing the title after a decade.
Also learn| Virat Kohli hits 12-year low, slips behind Babar Azam in newest ICC Test rankings after Border-Gavaskar Trophy
