Sam Konstas reveals what he REALLY thinks of Virat Kohli – and explains the strange habit that’s seen him get compared to Elvis Presley
- Former Indian skipper made headlines with shoulder barge
- Tried to bully the 19-year-old on his Test debut at the MCG
Sam Konstas had a fiery clash with Virat Kohli when the Indian star dropped his shoulder into him during the first session of the Boxing Day Test – but before that, the Australian prodigy was one of the former skipper’s biggest fans.
In a video of the 19-year-old, taken before he was called up to the Australian team, he is asked to choose three people he would like to receive a text message from.
Konstas – who is wearing his NSW uniform in the video – replies: “Shane Watson will be one, hopefully dad, and maybe Virat Kohli.”
Former Test star Watson is Konstas’ old mentor, so the fact that the youngster mentioned Kohli alongside him and his father is significant.
And when the batsman was asked to name the most famous person he has ever met in an earlier interview before his country call-up, he replied: “Probably Virat Kohli in Canberra,” referring to his first action against India in the speech prime minister. XI match earlier this summer when he scored a lightning century.
All the headlines from Konstas’ stellar debut innings revolved around the ugly clash and his incredible thrashing of the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, with a series of risky ramp shots.
Commentator Stephen Quartermain joined cricket fans in picking up on Konstas’ Elvis-esque snarl as he waited for the ball during his incredible debut at the MCG
However, some cricket fans – including commentator Stephen Quartermain – noticed something else during Konstas’ time at the crease: his habit of talking to himself and turning his upper lip into a grin reminiscent of Elvis Presley.
Australia’s brightest new star discussed both when he was interviewed on Channel Seven just before the show started on Friday.
“You’ve got a little squint in your right eye when you look up and talk to yourself while the bowler is about to run in. Tell us, what is the strabismus about and what are you saying to yourself here?’ asked former player turned commentator Trent Copeland.
Konstas laughed before replying, “I’m not really sure what the strabismus is about, but I try to turn my right eye towards the bowler, and what I say is, ‘Where’s the ball?’ Where’s the ball?
“It’s just so I can react to the ball and not premeditate it [my shot]but it is clear that I make certain recordings with premeditation.
“For me, I just try to be in that zone and do that every ball.”
The stunning performance at the MCG saw Konstas hit 60 off just 65 balls, with six boundaries and two sixes before falling LBW to Ravindra Jadeja.
That saw him take 18 from Bumrah in the most expensive over of the star’s career, and he also hit the world’s No. 1-ranked bowler for his first six in more than 4,000 deliveries.
Virat Kohli (pictured) once again became a villain in Australian cricket tragedy, but Konstas has a very different opinion of the divisive star
Pictured: Konstas (center) is flanked by teammates Steve Smith (left) and Alex Carey before the start of play on Thursday
Konstas went from 6,000 Instagram followers to over 105,000 overnight as fans went wild over his daring knock.
Australian cricket stalwarts and pundits including West Indies great Ian Bishop hailed the innings as one of the greatest debuts they have ever seen – with one fan even calling for his image to be added to the country’s currency.
Coming on in place of opener Nathan McSweeney, Konstas survived a brutal first over from Bumrah as he played four and missed to send India into turmoil.
By the ninth over, India had reverted to deploying fielders to the boundary in an attempt to tame the NSW whiz kid’s attacking attitude.
Konstas, the country’s 468th male Test cricketer, received his baggy green cap from legendary former Australian captain Mark Taylor.
He is the fourth youngest Australian man to play at Test level.
Konstas’ innings brought back memories of former star opener David Warner’s international debut at the MCG against South Africa in 2009.
But while Warner did it in a Twenty20, Konstas made his mark on the biggest day in the Australian cricket calendar, when the Border-Gavaskar series was still subtly tied at 1-1.