Is Konstas the future of cricket’s bold new era?

“If that happened again, maybe I wouldn't have said anything.”

These were Australian cricketer Sam Konstas' final thoughts on his on-field clash with Jasprit Bumrah, as shared with CODE Sports. 

“I feel like I love being in the contest and trying to put my best foot forward,” Konstas said.

“I feel like it's probably a good learning for me. I was trying to waste a little bit of time there so they didn't get another over. But he (Bumrah) had the last laugh.”

And laugh, he did. With the final ball of the day, Bumrah nabbed the wicket of Khawaja, turning directly into Konstas' path to celebrate.

This wasn't the first time Konstas had found himself facing the heat of the Indian team. In his debut Test just a match earlier in Melbourne, he made an immediate impact on the international stage by reverse-ramping Bumrah just ten overs into the game.

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, who had previously been caught on camera laughing at the teenager's bold play, suddenly shifted his attitude and made a beeline for Konstas, shoulder-checking him as their paths crossed.

As a result of the incident, Kohli was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point.

Speaking to ABC, Konstas' opening partner Khawaja described how he used his friendship with Kohli to diffuse the situation on the field.

“We've been mates for a long time, so was like (to Konstas), ‘You chill. Chill. Go bat. I'll talk to him and sort this out.”

With just as many altercations under his belt as test matches played, Konstas' on-field conduct has sparked significant discussion. Opinion, it appears, is firmly divided. 

A number of cricketing legends and pundits have shared their thoughts on Konstas' behaviour, with many urging him to work on biting his tongue. 

“I don't know whether it is naive enthusiasm or that's just the way he has always played his game through the juniors and liked to have high energy and get involved in the game, but really there was no need for Sam to get involved there,” said Mark Waugh, as quoted by Fox Sports. 

“I think Sam will reflect on that and think he should have minded his business and say, I have just got to let the bat do the talking.”

Similarly, Mark Taylor questioned whether Konstas' conduct could go unchecked, stating that if it were up to him, he'd have a “quiet word.”

“You don't want to take away his confidence, but at the same time you want to make sure his brashness is channelled in the right way,” the former Australian captain said from the Triple M commentary booth.

“I was always a person that kept a bit quieter on the field, and obviously Sam's not that sort of person, so you've got to work with him individually.”

Kerry O'Keeffe also captured the sentiment shared by most of the cricketing greats, remarking on Test Daily, “He's teasing the line, and it can be dangerous.”

Yet, O'Keeffe also nailed the flip side of the story, concluding his thoughts on Konstas with: “Konstas vs Bumrah. That's why people are in their seats at 10:30 for the start of that contest and what it promises to be.”

The issue with condemning Konstas' actions as something no one wants to see is that, as O'Keeffe points out, it's exactly what everyone came to watch.

The New Year's test in Sydney was the most watched individual Test of all time. The most streamed Test Day ever was Konstas' debut innings of Melbourne Day 1 and more than 1.4 billion minutes were streamed across the 2024/25 series, making it the most streamed of all time with audiences up 73 per cent on the 2023/24 ‘Summer of Cricket' tests.

Another factor was that the fiery cricket also delivered on quality. Konstas' blistering maiden half-century on debut - reached in just 52 balls - secured its place as the third-fastest in Australian Test history.

Following their horrific loss in the first Test of the summer, the Sydney test saw the Australians come back and take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in what could be the defining victory of the Pat Cummins era.

“I can't remember cricket being this fun and fearless,” Australian women's captain Alyssa Healy said in commentary.

This raises the question: could the series' success have existed without the drama? The fun without the fearlessness?

While the staying power of Konstas' bold, outspoken style - both in batting and in banter - remains uncertain, the overwhelming support from Australian fans on social media and the record-breaking ratings tell their own story.

The legacy of the 2024/25 Indian Test series seems poised to mark the fading relevance of cricket as 'the gentleman's game' in the modern era.

Though it's likely that Konstas will heed Waugh's advice and let his bat do the talking moving forward, the past two Tests have hinted that cricket might benefit just as much from his words as his performance.