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Fan to Foe: Sam Konstas Fiery Clash with Virat Kohli After Years of Admiration

December, 28, 2024-04:40

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Fan to Foe: Sam Konstas's Fiery Clash with Virat Kohli After Years of Admiration

Sam Konstas had a fiery moment with Virat Kohli during the Boxing Day Test when the Indian star dropped his shoulder into the Aussie wonderkid in the first session. However, just a short time before that heated exchange, Konstas was one of Kohli's biggest fans. A video from earlier, before he was called up to the Australian team, showed the 19-year-old picking Kohli as one of the three people he would love to receive a text message from, alongside his father and long-time mentor Shane Watson.

Konstas's admiration for Kohli was evident in an earlier interview, where he recalled meeting the Indian cricket legend in Canberra during a Prime Minister’s XI game, referring to it as the most famous person he had ever met. At the time, Konstas had just scored a blazing century against India, which helped cement his place as one of Australia's brightest young stars. However, during his debut innings at the MCG, it wasn’t his admiration for Kohli that made the headlines, but rather a dramatic clash with the Indian batsman and his thrilling performance against the world's best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah.

In an interview with Channel Seven just before Friday's play, Konstas shared a quirky insight into his batting technique. Asked about the "squint" he often has in his right eye when facing bowlers, he explained it helps him focus and react quickly to the ball. "Where’s the ball? Where’s the ball?" he said he tells himself, ensuring he stays in the moment. Konstas’s 60 runs from just 65 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes, showcased his talent before he was dismissed LBW by Ravindra Jadeja. His fiery clash with Kohli and his sensational innings only added to the growing hype around his debut