NEW DELHI: Former Australia pacer Damien Fleming believes the Indian team harbors little affection for fiery young opener Sam Konstas, following his heated exchange with Jasprit Bumrah on the opening day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The incident unfolded in the final over on Friday, with Bumrah at his run-up mark and Konstas at the striker's end. The 19-year-old gestured for Bumrah to wait, as Usman Khawaja wasn’t ready to face the delivery. This sparked a verbal exchange between the two, culminating in Bumrah dismissing Khawaja on the next ball and delivering a pointed send-off to Konstas, ending the day on a high for India.
The confrontation shifted momentum in India’s favor and revealed a rare, animated side of Bumrah.
However, former Australian cricketers Fleming and Simon Katich criticized India’s reaction to Konstas’ behavior, calling it excessive for the teenage opener.
“They don’t like him (Konstas); they are looking for any little thing, and he looks like he doesn’t care,” Fleming remarked on SEN Cricket.
“Not too many 19-year-olds would be brave enough to do that to the world's best bowler,” Katich added.
Konstas has courted controversy throughout the series. During his Test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he clashed with Virat Kohli in a shoulder bump that led to a fine for the Indian skipper. He also sledged Yashasvi Jaiswal during the Boxing Day Test. At Sydney, he continued his provocative behavior, attempting to rattle Bumrah in Australia’s first innings. However, Bumrah ultimately had the last laugh, removing the struggling Khawaja just before stumps.
“I’ve never seen Bumrah behave like that. I wouldn’t be stirring Bumrah up today,” Fleming said.
“He’s got a bit about him, and he’s not scared to get into a contest,” Katich added.
Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj shone with the ball, taking three wickets each to bowl out Australia for 181, giving India a slender four-run first-innings lead.
