Australia’s 19-year-old sensation Sam Konstas stole the show at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His spirited interactions with the crowd made him a fan favourite, particularly on Day 5, where he animatedly teased the Indian contingent by imitating Virat Kohli’s iconic shoulder bump—at the request of Australian fans.
Earlier in the Test, this gesture was part of a heated exchange with Kohli after the Indian skipper bumped into Konstas during the first innings. The incident prompted on-field umpire Usman Khawaja to step in, while the ICC fined Kohli 20% of his match fee and issued him one demerit point.
Konstas’ Fiery Debut and Kohli’s Struggles
Making his Test debut, Konstas impressed with a counterattacking 60 in the first innings, including unorthodox shots off Jasprit Bumrah. However, he failed to replicate his success in the second innings, being bowled by Bumrah for a single-digit score. Bumrah, in turn, mocked Konstas by rallying the crowd, a fitting response after conceding 18 runs to the teenager in a single over—the most expensive of his Test career.
Meanwhile, Kohli’s lean patch in the series continued, as he was dismissed for just five runs off 29 balls on Day 5, caught chasing an outside-off delivery from Mitchell Starc. This marked Kohli’s fourth single-digit score in the ongoing series.
Future of Kohli and Rohit Under Speculation
As discussions about the future of India’s veteran players gained momentum, former head coach Ravi Shastri weighed in on the potential retirement of Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Speaking to Star Sports, Shastri suggested that while conversations with Rohit would likely take place after the series, Kohli still has a few years left in him.
“No, I think Virat Kohli will play for some time. Forget the way he got out today; I believe he can play for 3 or 4 more years,” Shastri remarked. Konstas’ exuberant debut and Kohli’s ongoing struggles in the series underline the generational shift in cricket, as emerging talents like Konstas grab the spotlight.
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