Image: Sam Konstas shared details of his post-match chat with Virat Kohli / © Wisden
After winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with a dominant 3-1 series victory over India, young Australian sensation Sam Konstas has become the talk of the cricketing world. The 19-year-old opener impressed fans and critics alike with his fearless performances, including an audacious fifty in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Known for his bold strokeplay, Konstas took on India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah with daring scoops and ramps, setting the stage for a memorable debut series.
However, Konstas also found himself in the spotlight for heated on-field clashes with Indian legends Virat Kohli and Bumrah. Despite the intense exchanges, Konstas revealed a post-series chat with Kohli that showcased the Indian star’s humility. He said:
I loved every second of it, but there are great learnings to be had and reflected on, and hopefully in future tours, I can learn from that. I had a little chat after the game telling him that I idolize him, and it’s obviously a huge honor playing against him. When I did verse him, I was like, “Wow, Virat Kohli is batting”. He just had that presence about him, all the Indian crowd getting amongst it. Chanting his name. It was quite surreal. He was very down to earth. A lovely person, just wishing me all the best. I’ve idolized him from a young age, and he’s a legend of the game. He was very kind and wished me all the best, saying hopefully I do well on the tour of Sri Lanka if I’m in. My whole family loves Virat.
Konstas described Kohli as “down to earth” and admitted he idolized the former Indian captain, who offered words of encouragement and wished him well for future tours. Konstas’ performances and his sportsmanship in handling high-pressure situations have solidified his status as a rising star in international cricket.