The end of play on day one of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia, saw high drama as Jasprit Bumrah and Sam Konstas were involved in a fiery exchange.
With the stand-in skipper about to run in for the final ball of the day, Australian opener Usman Khawaja (2) pulled out as he was not ready. Bumrah was not happy, but what got him riled up was Konstas's reaction from the non-striker's end. The two confronted each other and it took the on-field umpire to separate them.
But the Indian pacer had the last laugh, as he got Khawaja to nick the last ball to KL Rahul in the second slip to spark off wild celebrations by the Indian players. Bumrah turned around and charged towards Konstas and then smirked at him.
ABSOLUTE CINEMA IN SYDNEY. 🍿
— 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 🥂 (@whyy__prince) January 3, 2025
- Sam Konstas involved in an argument with Bumrah.
- Bumrah removed Khawaja on the last ball.
- Team India totally fired up.
- Bumrah gives an ice cold stare to Konstas after the wicket. 🥶#INDvsAUST #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/sQawQgOYAZ
The two have a bit of history. In his debut match, Kostas had played a lap shot for six off Bumrah, and had also taken him on, unlike other Aussie batters. Since then, Bumrah had taken a special liking to the teenager. Konstas was also involved in a shoulder-bumping incident with Virat Kohli, for which the veteran was fined 20 per cent of the match and handed one demerit point.
Despite the drama, the day belonged to Australia, who bowled out India for 185. Though an out-of-form Rohit Sharma opted to rest for this Test, there was hardly any change in India's fortunes with the bat. The openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) and KL Rahul (4) were back in the hut within the first hour. Virat Kohli fell yet again—seventh time in the series—to a poke outside the off-stump for 17.
Shubman Gill (20), too, fell to a rush of blood as he stepped out to Nathan Lyon on the last ball before lunch only to be caught at first slip.
Rishabh Pant top-scored for the visitors with a 98-ball 40, but fell in familiar fashion, miscuing a pull shot. He and Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 95 balls) added 48 runs off 151 deliveries for the fifth wicket.
Scott Boland's (4/31) was the pick of bowlers with his length and line. Mitchell Starc (3/49) and Pat Cummins (2/37) gave him good support.
