Sam Konstas has grabbed the headlines ever since his debut in Melbourne against India in the fourth Test. If his heated exchange with Virat Kohli following the latter’s shoulder-barge on the youngster was the start of many, the Australian opener once again poked into Jasprit Bumrah just before the final over of Day 1 of the fifth Test in Sydney.
Sensing it to be the last over of the day, Australia opener Usman Khawaja wanted to buy some time Bumrah, unhappy with Khawaja’s tactics, complained to the on-field umpire.
Reacting to Bumrah’s complaints, Konstas engaged himself in an unnecessary altercation which turned out to be fatal as the Indian pacer dismissed Khawaja two balls later.
India captain Rohit Sharma, who ‘stood down’ from the fifth Test owing poor form, issued a stern message to the Australians. “Hamare ladke shaant hain, ab koi faaltu ki ungli karega toh hum shaant thodi rahenge. Cricket khelo bas, faaltu ka bol Bachchan kaaye ko karna (Our boys are calm, but if someone tries to poke us without a reason, we will not be quiet. Play cricket, don’t talk needlessly),” Rohit said while speaking to the official broadcaster when asked about the incident.