‘It’s all part of the game’: Sam Konstas recalls the Virat Kohli confrontation

Puducherry: Sam Konstas may be only 20, but the Australian opener has already experienced the highs and control that are part and parcel of top-flight cricket.His Test debut against India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy brought him instant fame as he took on Jasprit Bumrah with his gutsy approach and smashed the 60-ball 60 that won the Test for Australia.He turned Bumrah for a six, the over coming after the Indian pacer had gone 4,483 deliveries without dropping one in Test cricket.Looking back on this remarkable passage of play, Konstas admits that he was just having fun.“I don’t remember but I had a lot of fun. It was quite surreal and a lot of things happened at that moment,” the opener, who is now part of the Australia ‘A’ team playing here, told TOI.“Bumrah is the best bowler in the world so of course it was very challenging as well.His debut also brought a much-discussed confrontation with Virat Kohli. The two were involved in a shoulder-to-shoulder incident during the first session before exchanging words.However, Konstas has no lingering bitterness from it.“He just took me on the shoulder and then we went on. It’s all part of the game. After the game he wished me all the best for the future.”Although the form is not exactly on his side, the youngster does not seem to have lost his confidence.“I’m in very good shape, pretty much smashing them,” was Konstas’ enigmatic reply.