'India Doesn't Like Konstas': Fleming on Youngster's Clash with Bumrah

Former Australia pacer Damien Fleming claimed that the Indian team does not like fiery Sam Konstas following his confrontation with the visiting captain Jasprit Bumrah on the opening day of the ongoing fifth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground.

The incident occurred during the final over on Friday with Bumrah at his run-up mark and Konstas at the striker's end.

The 19-year-old seemed to request the pacer to hold back because Usman Khawaja was not ready to face Bumrah at the striker's end. Still, the two had verbal volleys before Bumrah sent back Khawaja on the very next ball, giving a fiery send-off to Konstas to wrap up the day on a high.

The incident not only changed the momentum in favour of India, but Bumrah saw a never-before animated side of himself.

Former Australian cricketers Fleming and Simon Katich did not like the reaction India showed against Konstas' actions and found it too harsh for the teen opener.

"They don't like him (Konstas); they are looking for any little thing, and he looks like he doesn't care," Fleming said on SEN Cricket.

"That wasn't very many 19-year-old who would do that to the best bowler of the world, Katich said.

Konstas was involved in a shoulder bump with Virat Kohli in his debut Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which led to a fine for the latter. Konstas was also heard sledging Yashasvi Jaiswal during the Boxing Day Test. The opener continued his notorious behavior in Sydney and tried to poke Bumrah during Australia's first innings. However, Bumrah had the last laugh by removing struggling Khawaja before the stumps.

"Yes, I'd never seen Bumrah behave like that. I wouldn't be stirring Bumrah up today," Fleming said.

"Kid's got a bit about him, and he's not scared to get into a contest," Katich added.

Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj picked three wickets each to bundle out Australia for 181 to take a slender four-run first-innings lead.