Konstas Reveals Conversation With Virat Following “Shoulder Bumping” Incident At MCG

December 8, 2025: Young Australian batting sensation Sam Konstas recently opened up about his memorable interaction with Indian star Virat Kohli following a tense moment during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Boxing Day Test, which was already filled with drama, saw Konstas face off against India’s red-hot pacer Jasprit Bumrah and quickly gain attention for his fearless approach.

Konstas stunned the packed MCG crowd by attacking Bumrah with ramp shots, accumulating 34 of his 60 runs off the Indian pacer alone. However, the fireworks weren’t limited to the batting display. During the match, Konstas had an altercation with Kohli, when the Indian batter bumped his shoulder into him. The incident rattled both teams, intensifying the atmosphere of the match, which saw India bundled out for 155 while chasing 340 runs on the final day.

Despite the heated moment, Konstas later sought out Virat Kohli to clear the air, offering an apology and expressing his admiration for the Indian star. In an interview with CODE Sports, Konstas shared that he told Virat how much he idolized him and how much of an honor it was to share the field with him.

“I had a little chat after the game telling him that I idolise him, and it is obviously a huge honour playing against him,” Konstas said. “When I did verse him, I was like, ‘wow, Virat Kohli is batting.’ He just had that presence about him, all the Indian crowd getting amongst it. Chanting his name. It was quite surreal.”

Konstas went on to praise Kohli as a “down-to-earth” person, recounting how the Indian batting legend wished him well for his future endeavors, including his potential selection for the Sri Lanka tour in early 2025. “He was very down to earth. A lovely person and just wishing me all the best, saying hopefully I go well on the tour of Sri Lanka if I am in.”

The respect Konstas has for Kohli is evident, as he mentioned that his whole family is a fan of the Indian icon. “My whole family loves Virat. I have idolised him from a young age, and he is a legend of the game,” Konstas added.

On the cricket front, Konstas had a solid debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 113 runs in four innings at an average of 28.25, with a strike rate of over 81. His performances in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season have been impressive as well, with 471 runs in five matches at an average of 58.87, including two centuries and a fifty.

Konstas also played a crucial role in Australia’s ICC U19 World Cup 2024 victory, scoring 191 runs in seven innings, including a century. He further showcased his talent with a match-winning 73* in a series between Australia A and India A before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His 107 off 97 balls in a warm-up game against India ahead of the Test series was a further demonstration of his potential.

Konstas’ interaction with Kohli highlights the mutual respect between young talent and established legends of the game, and his growing list of accomplishments shows that he’s one to watch for the future of Australian cricket.