Young Australian opener Sam Konstas recently shared a special moment from his Test debut that left cricket fans buzzing. The 19-year-old, who scored a gritty half-century against India at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), revealed a unique interaction with his cricketing idol, Virat Kohli, after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
A Shoulder Bump Turns into a Memorable Chat
During the Melbourne Test, Konstas and Kohli had a brief on-field run-in that saw the Indian star handed a demerit point. Despite the fiery exchange, the two shared a respectful conversation once the series concluded.
“I had a little chat after the game telling him that I idolise him, and it’s obviously a huge honour playing against him,” Konstas told CODE Sports.
The young batter, who was visibly in awe of Kohli’s presence, described the surreal experience of seeing the Indian crowd chant their hero’s name.
“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.
A Humble Gesture from a Legend
Konstas further revealed that Kohli wished him well for Australia’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The gesture left a lasting impression on the youngster.
“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 if I’m in,” Konstas shared.
For Konstas, the interaction wasn’t just about cricket. It was a personal moment, given his family’s admiration for Kohli.
“My whole family loves Virat. I’ve idolised him from a young age and he’s a legend of the game,” he said.
Debut at the Iconic MCG
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Konstas made his Test debut in front of a packed crowd at the MCG, an experience he described as overwhelming.
“It was my first time playing in front of 90,000 people on day one at the MCG and I was like, ‘holy crap, this is surreal,’” he recalled.
The youngster soaked in every moment of his debut, sharing the field with cricketing greats like Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, and Jasprit Bumrah.
“Playing against legends of the game like Kohli and Bumrah and playing with legends like Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, it is what I’ve dreamt of as a kid and I was just trying to soak up every second of it really.”
What’s Next for Konstas?
The Australian prodigy is set to feature in a few Big Bash League (BBL) games before heading to the UAE for a preparatory camp. Cricket Australia has allowed him to gain valuable experience in the BBL, playing under the leadership of Sydney Thunder captain David Warner.
He will then switch his focus back to red-ball cricket, with Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka kicking off on January 29 in Galle.
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