Sam Konstas is a fierce competitor, much like Virat Kohli, and they could be seen laughing about a recent shoulder bump incident after the Boxing Day Test, according to Stuart Clark, a former Australian fast bowler. Kohli bumped into Konstas during the fourth Test in Melbourne, which earned him a fine from the ICC and some boos from the Aussie fans. Clark believes these two tough athletes will eventually get along well. “Konstas is driven and wants to do well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Kohli takes him under his wing,” Clark shared.
He went on to say there might be a photo of them smiling together after the match. Both players are competitive and won’t back down easily, which made the bump not a great moment. Clark, who has known Konstas since he was a teenager, noted that his first innings in Test cricket was not typical of his usual aggressive style. “I’m curious to see how he plays in his next innings. Will he play aggressively or use a more traditional approach?” he wondered.
Clark also talked about a run-out that was caused by a mix-up between Kohli and his teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 82 runs before getting out. “It was a genuine misunderstanding, and it’s not fair to blame Kohli for that,” he said. He also defended Rishabh Pant for a risky shot that led to his out, saying that players sometimes miss the mark with their big shots. “We shouldn’t be too harsh on him because he’s a world-class player. It was just the wrong moment for that shot,” he explained.
Finally, Clark feels that India can still save the Melbourne Test since the pitch is not very challenging for batsmen. He described the pitch as mostly flat and good for batting, saying it wouldn’t be surprising if the strong Indian team successfully plays through the day in their second innings.
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