- The fearless Australian star was carried on the shoulder by Kohli
- He got under the skin of India with a fearless approach
Australian batting dynamo Sam Konstas has revealed the exchange he had with Indian cricket great Virat Kohli following their enthralling encounter during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, and why he regrets his clash with pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Konstas, 19, got into the tourists' shoes after scoring an impressive half-century on debut, where the teenager showed he was in no mood to be intimidated.
Even though Kohli attacked the youngster, Konstas told the cricket legend that he is still his hero.
Kohli then put on his charm and wished the opener all the best in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, if selected.
“I had a little chat after the game and told him I idolize him and it's obviously a great honor to play against him,” Konstas said. News Corporation.
'He just had that presence around him… (and) he was down to earth. A lovely person, just wishing me all the best. “I have idolized him from a very young age and he is a legend of the game.”
Sam Konstas made headlines almost immediately during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG when Virat Kohli shoulder-charged him (pictured).
Despite the heated clash, Konstas told the cricket legend that he is still his hero.
Konstas has expressed regret over his clash with pacer Jasprit Bumrah (pictured) during the Sydney Test.
Konstas did not get a chance to clear things up with Bumrah, who was visibly frustrated by the brashness of the MCG's young and fearless gun.
The pair then traded barbs during the Sydney test. Referees had to stand between them as tensions threatened to reach a boiling point.
A dramatic end to the first day followed, when Bumrah and Konstas clashed after Usman Khawaja walked away from a ball, with the India captain accusing him of delaying play to ensure another over was not bowled.
Konstas inserted himself into the saga by talking to Bumrah.
With tensions high, Khawaja was caught at second slip off the last ball of the day and India's talismanic seamer and several teammates ran straight to Konstas to celebrate in his face.
And if Konstas had his time again, he would act differently.
“I love being in the pageant,” he said. 'I (also) want to be a humble person.
'It's probably a good learning (curve) for me. I was trying to waste a little time so they wouldn't happen again. But he (Bumrah) had the last laugh, taking 32 wickets in the series.
“If that happened again, maybe I wouldn't have said anything.”