“A bit of rugby league action going on” - Sam Konstas’ brother reacts to shoulder barge with Virat Kohli in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Young Australian opener Sam Konstas' older brother Billy revealed that he had no issues with Virat Kohli shoulder-barging the right-hander on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against India. The 19-year-old's brother saw the incident as a little rugby league action on the cricket field.

The teenage prodigy marked himself out for the future with some audacious strokeplay against the new-ball pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, racing off the blocks. Konstas reached his half-century off only 52 balls as Australia's opening pair stitched an 89-run stand.

Speaking to SEN, the youngster's brother responded to the incident by saying:

"I didn’t mind it – it added a bit of a spectacle to cricket, a bit of rugby league action going on in the cricket space. Out on the field (Sam) has got such a hard exterior, but off the field, he’s such a humble guy."

Nevertheless, the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not spare Kohli. The apex body of cricket fined him 20% of his match fees and added one demerit point.

"We had no expectation coming into today" - Sam Konstas' brother

Sam Konstas made 60 off 65 balls on debut. (Image Credits: Getty)

The New South Welshman's brother Billy added that his heart rate had gone up significantly during the match and he was wishing for Konstas to keep the bat straight from the stands. He said:

"In the backyard, we did have the auto-wicketkeeper, so the ramp (shot) was out of play. I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest with you… I was shaking, my heart rate was up, and I was like, ‘Sammy, straight bat, straight bat,’ but yeah… it works! We had no expectation coming into today. We were just taking it moment by moment."

Australia's top four scored fifties as the hosts finished at 311/6 at Stumps. Both Usman Khawaja (57) and Marnus Labuschagne (72) had a chance to score centuries but missed out. Nevertheless, Steve Smith is still at the crease, unbeaten on 68.