Unseen Sam Konstas act during SCG Test causes stir

Sam Konstas earned instant cult hero status with his antics against India, now one act that went overlooked is raising eyebrows.

Sam Konstas has done plenty to attract social media scuttlebutt and newspaper headlines - but this is one time where the flashy batsman didn’t deserve it.

The 19-year-old sensation at times overshadowed the wild finish in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series since making his Test debut at the Boxing Day Test.

Konstas’ cavalier antics have made him an instant cult hero, but it has also seen him come in for plenty of criticism from Test greats.

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His larrikin persona in the field has been a highlight for crowds at the MCG and during the New Year’s Test in Sydney, but footage that has begun to spread across cyberspace appears to paint the teenager in the wrong light.

One video on Instagram has particularly caused a stir with suggestions from social media users Konstas was performing a crude gesture by shaking his hand in response to the crowd’s chants of ‘Kohli, Kohli, Kohli’.

You can watch the incident in the video player below.

“Sam Konstas single handedly taking care of 1.6 billion Indians. Love this fella,” one Instagram user commented on a video.

Another wrote: “Love this guy”.

However, the social media users making those suggestions seemed to have missed the fact Konstas appears to be holding a white hand warming pouch in his hand.

Sam Konstas was a hit with the SCG crowd. Photo: Tom Parrish, News Corp Australia and Instagram @ayuu_018.

Sam Konstas appeared to have a hand warmer in his hands. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Hand warming packs are typically activated by being crushed or shaken.

The incident occurred on the opening day of play at the SCG when Kohli was batting with India in trouble at 2/37.

Aussie captain Pat Cummins sent Konstas back to field on the boundary at deep square leg — and his presence brought Indian fans to life.

Fox Cricket cameras caught the hilarious moment Konstas applauded one Indian fan who showed off a large poster that had Kohli’s face plastered on it.

Konstas also continued to shake the apparent hand warming device as the crowd continued to sledge the opening batsman — much to the showman’s delight.

The shaking hand gesture was also repeated later in the SCG Test with one video on X capturing another interaction with Indian fans.

A spectator at the SCG captioned the video: “Konstas fielding in front of the Indian Fan Zone at the SCG and the crowd goes ‘Sam is a wa*kster’.”

Sam Konstas applauds the crowd. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Konstas and Kohli have shared one of the most unlikely personal battles to emerge from the series ever since the Indian superstar put his shoulder into the Aussie when he was dismissed for the first time in Melbourne, having got under the skin of Indian destroyer Jasprit Bumrah.

Kohli and Konstas were seen smiling together behind the scenes during a reception with Aussie Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Kirribilli House in Sydney last week.

Kohli also posed for photos with Konstas’ brothers.

That doesn’t mean the personal battle was over.

Konstas engaged in some blunt sledging with Bumrah in the final over of the day on Friday — and it became one of the most spiteful moments of the series.

Bumrah claimed the wicket of Usman Khawaja with the final delivery of the day and almost immediately turned to celebrate in the direction of Konstas at the non-striker’s end.

Replays showed Kohli had an incredibly animated reaction, dashing from the slips to run straight at Konstas before veering away towards his teammates.

It went up another level on Day 2 when Konstas was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj for 22.

Kohli celebrated the wicket with teammates by waving his arms to rev up the crowd — the same gesture Konstas used to irk the Tourists at the MCG.

Sam Konstas faced the crowd again shaking his hand. Photo: X @mahale_rushabh.

Sam Konstas and Virat Kohli in Sydney. Photo: Instagran, @virat.kohli.insider and _virat_kohli_18_club_.

It showed Konstas has inexplicably lived rent free in the heads of frustrated Indian players.

The chirpy Aussie was again singled out by Indian coach Gautam Gambhir during his post-match press conference on Sunday.

It came after Aussie coach Andrew McDonald took umbrage with some of the behaviour Indian players have shown towards Konstas.

“It’s a tough sport played by tough men. You can’t be that soft,” Gambhir said.

“As simple as it can get. I don’t think there was anything intimidating about it.

“He had no right to be talking to Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time taking guard.

“He had no right, no business to be involved with Jasprit Bumrah.”

Sam Konstas and Jasprit Bumrah had to be celebrated. Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP.

The opening day furore earlier took a dark turn with sickening abuse directed at Konstas emerging.

The abuse continued well after players had walked off the field — and, in an ugly development, some social media users called for Konstas to receive the same treatment as Phillip Hughes.

The cricket world continues to mourn Hughes. He died 10 years ago after being hit in the head during a Sheffield Shield match.

There has been outrage surrounding the trolling comments.

Throughout all the furores, one thing remains concrete — Konstas has not buckled or changed his natural behaviour.

Cricket fans will be hoping that is still the case when Australia next steps into the Test arena in a two-match series in Sri Lanka, beginning January 29.

Originally published as Unseen Sam Konstas act during SCG Test causes stir