Jasprit Bumrah celebration after Sam Konstas wicket proves teen star has India rattled

Sam Konstas got a brutal reminder of how treacherous life can be as a Test opener - but there was also a hint of just how much India might fear the teen phenom, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

Sam Konstas’ second innings in Test cricket was not as eventful as the first but it proved two things.

The first was that he is getting under India’s skin - the second is that they now respect him enough to do some homework on how to get him out.

Konstas got one of the balls of the match when a beautifully pitched Jasprit Bumrah stump-seeking missile seamed back slightly between bat and pad to tickle the top of off-stump.

Jasprit Bumrah bowls Sam Konstas early on day four

This type of ball was the one that junior teams felt was - and still is - the best plan to Konstas so the success of it will surely inspire India to try it again in the last Test in Sydney.

That’s life in the Test match jungle where one man’s foible is another’s target.

Bumrah, one of the greatest fast men we have seen on these shores, celebrated by boisterously urging the throng of Indian fans behind square leg to rejoice in the moment by waving his arms up and down as if to say “let’s hear it.’’.

Jasprit Bumrah revs up the Indian fans after taking Konstas’ wicket. Picture: Getty

This, if you don’t mind, for the wicket of a 19-year-old in his second innings. You would have sworn it was for Steve Smith in his pomp.

But Konstas had treated Bumrah with humbling disdain in the first innings and this was the sweetest of revenge.

Bumrah’s threatrics were clearly mocking similar gestures by Konstas to the crowd in recent days in which the youngster has been something of a choirmaster.

Bumrah is not known for his boisterous celebrations so his animation was a sign of how far Konstas has slipped under their skin. Clearly they think the youngster has got ahead of himself.

Konstas will need to be a brave and talented cricketer to stay the course as a fearless showman.

India placed a man on the fence to cover for the ramp shot so Konstas had to adjust by playing more conventionally after he literally raced to the wicket to bat, a full 50m ahead of his opening partner Usman Khawaja.

At the time of his dismissal Kontas had faced 41 balls from Bumrah in this Test for 35 runs and one dismissal.

That’s the good bit. The other side of the equation was that there were 18 false shots, basically one every two balls.

Only once has an opener had more false shots for an innings over 40 balls - David Warner versus his nemesis Stuart Broad at Leeds in 2019.

The kid versus the champ. Anything could happen in Sydney. Bring it on.

Originally published as Jasprit Bumrah celebration after Sam Konstas wicket proves teen star has India rattled