December 26, 2024: Former head coach Ravi Shastri couldn’t help but draw comparisons between Australia’s 19-year-old Test debutant Sam Konstas and the legendary Virender Sehwag after watching the young opener take on the formidable Indian pace attack on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Konstas, making his debut for Australia, left even the likes of Jasprit Bumrah—widely considered the best pacer in all formats—speechless with his fearless and aggressive approach. His audacity to take on India’s premier fast bowlers, including Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, not only rattled the Indian team but also visibly frustrated Virat Kohli. One of the standout moments was Konstas’s ramp shot for four, a stroke that immediately highlighted his immense natural talent and confidence.
Shastri, watching the young man take on India’s pace unit with swagger, couldn’t contain his admiration. He said, “I don’t think anyone has treated Bumrah like that in any format of the game, let alone red-ball cricket. For him to go out there with that swagger and attempt some outrageous shots—it was something else.” Shastri noted that Konstas’s fearless style and aggressive intent were reminiscent of how Sehwag had burst onto the international scene in the late 1990s, defying conventional cricketing norms and taking the game to bowlers.
As Konstas went after the Indian bowlers, it was clear that his boldness unsettled the Indian team. Initially, when he missed a couple of audacious shots, the Indian players smiled, thinking they would soon get him out. However, as Konstas started to score freely, the smiles disappeared, and India seemed to run out of ideas, with Shastri adding, “At one point, it felt like India had run out of ideas. They actually didn’t know what hit them.”
Though Konstas’s innings eventually ended at 60 off 65 balls, dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin, his impact on the game was undeniable. His fearless shot-making and ability to take on India’s top-tier pacers left an indelible mark on the contest. Shastri, acknowledging that Konstas would likely have his fair share of failures due to his aggressive style, emphasized that the young opener was “born to entertain” and could become a key figure for Australia if he maintained his fearless approach.
This display of bold, attacking cricket was certainly one to remember, and it will be interesting to see how Konstas develops as a player in the coming years—perhaps with shades of Sehwag’s audacity and flair.
