Former head coach Ravi Shastri couldn’t help but draw comparisons between Australia’s 19-year-old Test debutant Sam Konstas and the legendary Virender Sehwag after watching the young opener Sam Konstas take on the formidable Indian pace attack on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
At 19 years of age, Sam Konstas was picked up as a replacement for Nathan McSweeney, who failed to impress in the first handful of Tests, and it took little time for the swashbuckling youngster to let his presence be known for all.
Sam Konstas swashbuckling innings on the opening day at MCG sets the base for huge Australian total.
Australia ended Day 2 of the IND vs AUS 4th Test at a score of 311/6 wherein Australian batters Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne ended up scoring fifties. The Indian bowlers looked clueless throughout the day and it was pacer Jasprit Bumrah once again only leading the charge for Rohit Sharma and Co with the ball.
Jasprit Bumrah has been among the most difficult bowlers for the Australian batters in the series as of now, debutant Sam Konstas played some unorthodox shots against the lead Indian bowler. The latter played ramps and reverse sweep against the leading wicket-taker of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series ended up playing an innings of 60 runs from 65 balls.
Sam Konstas, making his debut for Australia, left even the likes of Jasprit Bumrah—widely considered the best pacer in all formats—speechless with his fearless and aggressive approach. His audacity to take on India’s premier fast bowlers, including Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, not only rattled the Indian team but also visibly frustrated Virat Kohli. One of the standout moments was Sam Konstas’s ramp shot for four, a stroke that immediately highlighted his immense natural talent and confidence.
Though Sam Konstas’s innings eventually ended at 60 off 65 balls, dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin, his impact on the game was undeniable. His fearless shot-making and ability to take on India’s top-tier pacers left an indelible mark on the contest. Shastri, acknowledging that Konstas would likely have his fair share of failures due to his aggressive style, emphasized that the young opener was “born to entertain” and could become a key figure for Australia if he maintained his fearless approach.
Ravi Shastri Lavishes Praise on Young Aussie Batter Sam Konstas after his heroics on Day 1 at MCG
Sam Konstas the right-handed batter from New South Wales took Indian bowlers to the cleaners in the first session of Day 1’s play of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and slammed 60 runs from just 65 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. He went on to hammer star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah for a four and a six on the first two deliveries. Sam Konstas, who failed to play a reverse scoop against the world No. 1 Test bowler in his first few balls, successfully managed to connect the ball on back-to-back deliveries.
The six that he smacked against the 31-year-old right-arm pacer on the second ball of the seventh over was the first six Bumrah conceded since the New Year Test in 2021. The unbridled confidence Sam Konstas exuded reminded former Indian coach Ravi Shastri of a very similar opener who made a living off being an absolute nightmare for opening bowlers: Virender Sehwag.
“I don’t think anyone’s taken or treated Bumrah like that in any format of the game, let alone red-ball cricket. For him to go out there with that swag and attempt some outrageous shots—it was something else. He tore that MCC coaching manual to shreds. At one point, it felt like India had run out of ideas…The ideas disappeared,” Shastri expressed on Star Sports.
“I’d say he’ll have his odd failures with the way he plays and the chances he takes. It reminds me a lot of Virender Sehwag when he first burst onto the scene. He’ll entertain when he gets going, and he’s born to entertain. If he plays for any length of time for Australia, he’ll do exactly that.”
Former Australian head coach Justin Langer agreed with Shastri’s judgment, praising the young Konstas for putting his money where his mouth was, and taking on the ace pacer.
“He’s been given a license to go and attack Bumrah, but that’s not easy—that is so hard to do… The kid was bold, talking a good game, and then he came and put it into action. That’s what great players do. Anyone can talk a good game. He came and put it into action, and it was exciting to watch,” Langer exclaimed.
By scoring two sixes against Bumrah, Sam Konstas added his name to the history books as he became only the second player after Jos Buttler to score multiple maximums against Bumrah in an innings of a Test match. Sam Konstas also became the second youngest Aussie to score fifty in Test cricket. This display of bold, attacking cricket was certainly one to remember, and it will be interesting to see how Sam Konstas develops as a player in the coming years—perhaps with shades of Sehwag’s audacity and flair.
The MCG pitch has proved out to be pretty helpful for the batters as of now and the Indian bowlers weren’t able to use the overcast conditions well. The Indian team will now look forward on getting out the Aussie batters early as soon as possible and end up wrapping up their first innings a quickly as possible. On the other hand, hosts are in the driving seat as batters Steve Smith is currently placed at the crease with an unbeaten overnight score of 68 odd runs and will look to add more to his tally.