Sam Konstas once again found himself at the centre of controversy during the fifth and final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024, held in Sydney, where India faced Australia. The 19-year-old had previously stirred debate with a contentious exchange involving Virat Kohli in his debut Test. He continued this trend on Day 1 of the fifth Test, this time directing his attention towards Jasprit Bumrah.

As the final over of Day 1 unfolded, Usman Khawaja was at the crease, preparing to face Bumrah, the leading Indian fast bowler. Khawaja delayed his run-up to ensure it would indeed be the last over of the day, a move that did not sit well with Bumrah, who expressed his frustration. Meanwhile, Konstas, positioned at the non-striker’s end, chose to escalate the situation, attempting to catch Bumrah off guard with some provocative remarks.

The exchange between Konstas and Bumrah escalated until the umpires stepped in to restore order. However, Bumrah ultimately had the last word, as he delivered a final ball that resulted in Khawaja being caught behind. In a display of celebration, Bumrah charged towards Konstas, locking eyes with him, while his teammates joined in the moment. The cameras captured Virat Kohli sprinting from the slip position to celebrate and confront Konstas, followed by his fellow players. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna was observed laughing at the unfolding drama.

An evaluation of Sam Konstas

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody expressed his criticism of Konstas on social media, urging senior players such as Pat Cummins and Steve Smith to provide him with the necessary guidance. He stated, “Sam Konstas has much to learn. I hope the dressing room is offering that guidance without suppressing his confidence and youthful enthusiasm,” on X.

Moody emphasized that Khawaja maintained composure and was not influenced by Konstas, which ultimately contributed to his dismissal. He stated, “Usman was fully in command; what he did not require was the distraction of having to calm his partner at the non-striker's end.”

In the course of the fourth Test, Konstas engaged in a shoulder bump incident with Virat Kohli, leading to a verbal exchange between them. Subsequently, he was observed ridiculing Kohli and the Indian supporters by mimicking the shoulder bump, at the behest of Australian fans.

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