Australia vs India: What to expect from debutante, Sam Konstas

MELBOURNE: At just 19 years and 85 days, Sam Konstas has become one of youngest debutante for Australia to step onto the international stage.

The fourth Australia vs India test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) marks his test debut for Australia.

Read more: Australia vs India: Cummins wins toss, elects to bat first

The teenager’s inclusion in the squad as one of the youngest players to represent the Kangaroos in test cricket places him in the same list as the likes of Ian Craig and Pat Cummins.

The Boxing Day test match commended with Australia winning the toss and opting to bat first. The decision then set the stage for Sam Konstas to prove his exceptional skills quite early in the Australia vs India match.

The young debutante found him against one of the best and most formidable bowlers in entire world, Jasprit Bumrah.

The pressure is bound to be immense as expectations from entire cricketing world, even here in Pakistan, are quite high.

From the onset, he displayed a sense of confidence that reminiscent of the bold self-assurance that only youth can possess.

Konstas tried a risky shot on just his eleventh ball, reflecting his aggressive approach to batting, even though it is more suited to shorter formats of the sport.

Fortunately for young Aussie, the ball narrowly missed hitting the stumps, allowing him to continue playing.

As the match went on, Sam Konstas managed to score his first runs, while facing the juggernaut that is Bumrah, known for his deadly speed.

The pitch at the Melbourne stadium is apparently suited for favouring fast bowlers, which will add another level of difficulty for the youngster.

While Cummins seems to be of the opinion that the pitch conditions were conducive for batting, Konstas’ ability to remain calm and adapt will be critical.

Read more: Pakistan pacer Khurram returns to test squad for South Africa series

The pressure of performing in front of a large crowd, with a team as strong as India’s, in a match that will decide the fate of entire series, and to justify debuting a youngster, Sam Konstas certainly has a lot on his plate.