Who said what - top 5 expert reactions to Sam Konstas' debut fifty vs India in BGT 2024-25 4th Test ft. Ravi Shastri

Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old Australian debutant, took everyone by surprise during the opening day of the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 26.

Opening the batting for the home side, the young right-hander put on a show to remember as he slammed his maiden Test fifty on debut. He displayed immense courage for someone playing his first Test, that too at his age, against India on a Boxing Day.

Konstas played scoops and reverse scoops to Jasprit Bumrah, who is among the toughest and best all-format bowlers at the moment. He scored 60 runs off just 65 deliveries before he was dismissed, smashing six fours and a couple of maximums.

His fearless approach has earned him praise from one and all. The young batters' counter-attacking knock helped set the foundation as Australia ended the day in a strong position at 311/6.

Following his sensational fifty on Test debut against India, here are some of the top expert reactions.

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Who said what - top 5 expert reactions to Sam Konstas' debut fifty vs India in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

#5 Justin Langer

Former Australian cricketer as well as head coach, Justin Langer called Sam Konstas 'bold' and stated that his innings was exciting to watch. Langer said that while Konstas was given the license to attack Jasprit Bumrah, it is not easy to do so but he put his plans into action.

“He’s been given a license to go and attack Bumrah, but that’s not easy—that is so hard to do… The kid was bold, talking a good game, and then he came and put it into action. That’s what great players do. Anyone can talk a good game. He came and put it into action, and it was exciting to watch," Langer said on Star Sports.

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#4 Parthiv Patel

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel appreciated the young Australian for his mindset and the ability to attack Bumrah.

"The way Sam Konstas started, in the first 2-3 overs it appeared as the ball was seaming. However, Konstas had a different thought in his mind and he came with a different thinking. He said that Jasprit Bumrah is your main bowler and I will attack him," Parthiv told on Cricbuzz.

He added that Konstas had nothing to lose and everything to gain, stating that the youngster displayed a fearless approach and commendable skills to execute unorthodox shots in the format against Bumrah.

"When you are debuting, at the age of 19, who have nothing to lose. Actually, you have everything to gain. If you do well here your team can come in a good position and you will be appreciated as well. Sam Konstas began his innings with a fearless approach and played unorthodox shots. He played scoops and reverse scoops against Jasprit Bumrah. He has played such shots at the first-class level but executing those in Test cricket against a bowler like Bumrah was indeed commendable."

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#3 Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri, another former Indian cricketer, expressed how Sam Konstas impressed him by treating Bumrah the way he did, particularly in Test cricket.

“I don’t think anyone’s taken or treated Bumrah like that in any format of the game, let alone red-ball cricket. For him to go out there with that swag 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…The ideas disappeared," Shastri exclaimed on Star Sports.

He also added that Konstas reminded him of Virender Sehwag, who also batted with a fearless approach and took the attack to the opposition. Shastri continued:

“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. He’ll entertain when he gets going, and he’s born to entertain. If he plays for any length of time for Australia, he’ll do exactly that."

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#2 Dinesh Karthik

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik described Konstas as a player from the modern playbook. Like others, he also appreciated the fearless approach shown by the youngster and his planning to play unorthodox shots to attack the bowlers.

"I must admit, he (Sam Konstas) is a bit from the modern playbook. He got beaten a few times and realised that yes I might have had a plan but the plan now is I need to attack. How am I going to attack? I am going to play shots that people generally see in white ball cricket. If I get out doing that, so be it. But I am going to do it and do it fearlessly. Hats off to him," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

The former cricketer also credited Konstas for believing in himself and backing his plans and abilities.

"You need to back yourself. When you hear Sam Konstas' interviews in the leadup to the game, he said I have a plan. His shots that followed up, he was backing away, stepping out to fast bowlers, which you generally don't see. It was a knock that you play at the backend of a white ball game. The credit to him is he backed his plan," he said.

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#1 Irfan Pathan

Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Irfan Pathan took to X (formerly Twitter) to make a cheeky comment about the youngster's performance.

In his tweet, he used terms like 'fearlessness' and 'borderline stupidity' in the same line to describe the way Konstas played. He added that Australia wanted someone who could face Bumrah in a different way and they got the play to do so.

"What I’m seeing with Sam Konstas is fearlessness & borderline stupidity. But that’s what Australia wanted. Wanted some one to face Jasprit Bumrah in different way," he tweeted.