"I don't think anyone has treated Bumrah like that" - Former India head coach hails Sam Konstas for debut heroics on Day 1 of 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lavished praise on Australian debutant Sam Konstas for the manner in which he toyed with Jasprit Bumrah on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Thursday, December 26. While sharing his thoughts on the 19-year-old's knock, Shastri opined that no batter has treated Bumrah in such an audacious manner in any format of the game.

Batting first after winning the toss, Australia reached 311-6 by stumps on Day 1 of the MCG Test. Debutant Konstas stole the show in the opening session of play, hammering 60 off 65 balls, with the aid of six fours and two sixes. The youngster added 89 for the first wicket with Usman Khawaja (57) before he was trapped leg before by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

Speaking on Star Sports, Shastri hailed Konstas for the manner in which he took on Bumrah, nonchalantly pulling off a few scoops and ramp shots. The former India all-rounder said (as quoted by ANI):

"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. He tore that MCC coaching manual to shreds. At one point, it felt like India had run out of ideas. They actually didn't know what hit them.

"Initially, he missed the first two shots, and there was a smile on the faces of the Indian players. They thought, 'If he takes chances, we'll get him quickly.' But as soon as this started happening, all the smiles disappeared. The ideas disappeared," the 62-year-old went on to add.

Shastri went on to compare Konstas to former India opener Virender Sehwag. He stated that the Aussie's whirlwind knock reminded him of a young Sehwag.

"It was hard to believe, but it was indeed Konstas' debut Test for Australia. Watching Konstas dictate the terms of play, Shastri was reminded of Sehwag when the former opener first burst onto the scene. I'd say he'll have his odd failures with the way he plays and the chances he takes. It reminds me a lot of Virender Sehwag when he first burst onto the scene," the former India coach said.

Before making his Test debut on Thursday at the MCG, Konstas had hammered 107 off 97 balls in the practice game for Prime Minister's XI against India. The impressive knock featured 14 fours and a six.

---

"The fluency was much better" - Shastri reckons Smith's return to form an ominous sign for India

Apart from Konstas and Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith also struck fifties for Australia on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. While Labuschagne was dismissed for 72, Smith was unbeaten on 68 at stumps. According to Shastri, Smith's return to form doesn't augur well for India. He said:

"The time he spent at the crease in the last game was crucial. It was a grind--those first 40 or 50 runs--but he went through it. Today, the fluency was much better. He attacked the spinners, and his feet were moving well. Once players like Smith smell the coffee, they don't stop. He's not sitting on a hundred here. We've seen him in the past--once he gets on a roll, he doesn't hold back or waste good form when he sees it."

Smith began BGT 2024-25 with scores of 0, 17 and 2 in the first two Tests. He compiled a defiant 101 in the first innings of the rain-hit Test in Brisbane. Smith occupied the crease for 190 balls and hit 12 fours in his resolute knock.