Australia opener Sam Konstas has shared his initial thoughts regarding the shoulder shove he received from Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The debutant acknowledged that emotions ran high for both him and Kohli during a heated confrontation, which has sparked discussions within the cricket community about whether the International Cricket Council should impose sanctions on the former Indian captain. Notable figures such as Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan have suggested that Kohli should bear responsibility, urging ICC match referee Andy Pycroft to investigate the incident.

Konstas remarked that he was unaware of the situation as he was merely adjusting his gloves following the over. "I believe emotions affected both of us. I didn't notice what was happening; I was just fixing my gloves when I felt the shoulder charge, but such things occur in cricket," he stated in an interview with Channel 7.

The brief confrontation occurred after the 10th over of the Australian innings as the players were crossing paths. Kohli and Konstas collided shoulders while navigating the pitch.

Both players quickly turned to face each other, engaging in a spirited exchange of words, prompting Konstas' teammate Usman Khawaja to intervene and separate them. The on-field umpires also addressed the situation with both players.

At the time, Konstas was batting on 27 and subsequently struck Jasprit Bumrah for two boundaries and a six in the following over.

How Konstas got the better of world's best bowler Bumrah

The 19-year-old made an impressive debut, scoring a remarkable fifty before being dismissed leg before wicket by Ravindra Jadeja for a total of 60 runs. Konstas, the youngest Australian debutant since Pat Cummins in 2011, reached his fifty in just 52 balls and celebrated by pointing to the Australian emblem on his shoulder and the name on the back of his shirt.

"It was a small tribute to the Konstas family, who have made numerous sacrifices to support my journey. I felt a surge of emotion when I raised my bat. The support from everyone created a fantastic atmosphere," he remarked.

Konstas was particularly aggressive against the world’s top bowler, Bumrah, striking four fours and a six during his innings. He accumulated 14 runs and 18 runs in the final two overs of Bumrah's spell. The 34 runs he scored off Bumrah represent the highest number of runs the Indian pacer has conceded to any batsman in a single spell in Test cricket.

Utilizing the reverse ramp effectively, Konstas managed to disrupt Bumrah's rhythm. The teenager, who stepped in for Nathan McSweeney in the Australian lineup, noted that this approach was not premeditated; rather, it was a spontaneous decision made after facing Bumrah a few times in the match's opening over.

Read Also: Sunil Gavaskar Reacts to Kohli's Confrontation with Konstas

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!