Fireworks were guaranteed when Australian youngster Sam Konstas took on the power of Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, and it was the Indian stars who had the last laugh.
Their smiles later turned into frowns when Bumrah was sent to a nearby hospital for scans on a mystery injury.
Earlier on Saturday, Konstas was out for 23 on the second day of the fifth Test in Sydney after pacer Mohammed Siraj tempted him to drive.
Collectively, the tourists celebrated wildly, and the teenager felt humiliated as he returned to the pavilion.
Kohli could be seen shouting happily as he walked past Konstas, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was seen behind the stumps waving both his hands in the air in joy after grabbing the chance.
It was the same gesture that Konstas used to get under India’s skin during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and Kohli couldn’t wait to taunt Konstas with the same gesture.
Mohammed Siraj celebrates with his teammates after seeing off Sam Konstas at the SCG
Collectively, the tourists celebrated wildly, and the teenager felt humiliated as he returned to the pavilion.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was seen behind the stumps waving both his hands in the air in joy after taking Sam Konstas’ chance.
In what was an eventful first session, Steve Smith came close to reaching his coveted personal milestone – 10,000 Test runs in his career.
The 35-year-old was stranded on 9995 runs after Prasidh Krishna dismissed him.
More drama ensued when Indian quick Bumrah was sent to a nearby Sydney hospital for scans.
The exact nature of his injury is unknown.
“He’s going to see some doctors, they’ll do scans… we’ll know more in a while,” Indian great Ravi Shastri said on the Fox Cricket broadcast.
“We just had the feeling that he wasn’t feeling well. “This could have a huge influence on the series.”
Kohli leads the team in Bumrah’s absence and India takes a four-run lead from the first innings.
Bumrah stripped off his white clothes with scans to determine the severity of the mystery injury.
Before leaving the field, Bumrah scored 2.33 in 10 overs, including the key wicket of Marnus Labuschagne.
Meanwhile, former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody has declared that batting dynamo Konstas has “a lot to learn” following his combative attitude against India at the end of the first day of the fifth Test in Sydney.
Konstas, 19, sliced an early boundary off Jasprit Bumrah to set the tone in Australia’s innings on Friday, and then angered the visitors after starting a war of words with the Indian captain.
When Usman Khawaja emerged moments later, an enraged Bumrah turned to face Konstas.
Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna also quickly took on the teenager and then Virat Kohli, of course, attacked in the direction of Konstas.
The fearless teenager is already a cult hero among Australian fans, but he is quickly becoming public enemy number one for India and its followers.
Moody, who won two ODI World Cups in his decorated career, fears Konstas’ arrogant willow-in-hand approach is fraught with danger.
‘Sam Konstas has a lot to learn. “I hope the locker room offers him that guidance without suppressing his confidence and youthful enthusiasm,” he posted on X.
Rugby league identity Phil Gould agreed, tweeting: “I fear for this lad if he is allowed to continue down this path.”
Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody believes Sam Konstas has “a lot to learn” after his combative attitude against India on the first day of the fifth Test in Sydney.
Rugby league identity Phil Gould fears for Konstas’ future and urged teenager to ‘earn his stripes’
This cricket fan pointed out that there is a “fine line between confidence and boorish arrogance.”
Another feels Konstas could “end up alienating a lot of people” if he continues to be brash.
Konstas has not been intimidated by the Indians since making his debut in the Boxing Day Test (pictured, an excited Jasprit Bumrah)
Referee Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat had to intervene as tensions reached a boiling point (pictured) on Friday at the SCG.
The fearless teenager is already a cult hero among Australian fans, but he is quickly becoming public enemy number one for India and its followers.
Konstas has stepped into the shoes of Indian stars as he continues to play cricket in his own unique way.
Cricket fan Derek Alberts noted that there is a “fine line between confidence and boorish arrogance”, while former ABC sportscaster Glenn Mitchell tweeted that he “could easily end up alienating a lot of people if he doesn’t rein things in a bit.” “.
Australian debutant Beau Webster said Konstas is a “very confident young man” who has been embraced by the Test team.
Konstas is also shaping up to be the future, as no current Australian player in the XI is over 20 years old.
‘The first ball, when he ran down the wicket and hit him (Bumrah) at mid-wicket, there was no surprise anymore. It was like, ‘Here we go, he’s far away,'” Webster told reporters.
‘Sam is a very confident young man. That’s what they do today: they pursue it and they strive to do it.’