Few years ago, Christmas Eve meant playing backyard cricket with his brother. But now, 19-year-old Australian Sam Konstas is devising plans to tackle the world’s most destructive fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the Boxing Day Test against India.

The five-match series is evenly poised at 1-1.

“I do have a plan for Bumrah but I am not going to tell what it is. Trying to put pressure back on bowlers,” Konstas told reporters on Monday, three days before his much-anticipated Test debut.

His predecessor in the opening slot Nathan McSweeney had said the same thing for Bumrah but was dismissed four out of five times by the premier bowler in three Tests, leading to his eventual exclusion from the squad.

Bumrah wasn’t a part of the Indian attack in the two warm-up games in which Konstas got runs. So, who apart from Bumrah stood out?

“All are very good bowlers… world-class, looking forward to experiencing that challenge and living that,” he won’t give away anything.

Konstas had a cheeky smile when asked how his Christmas Eve used to be few years back.

“Used to play backyard cricket with my brother and loads of food and they are coming over soon for Christmas,” he said.

“It is amazing to get an opportunity at my age and it’s a dream come true to represent my country,” he added.

The entire Konstas family will be in attendance at the ‘G’ for his biggest day.

“It’s a special day for me with my parents coming in. Plan is pretty simple, to back myself and savour it really,” he added.

Tennis player Mark Phillippoussis was the first renowned Australian international sportsperson of Greek heritage and Konstas could become the second one considering how big a melting pot the country’s sporting teams have been over the years.

“It’s a special feeling I think and sacrifices that they (parents) have made to take me to games of cricket and experiencing the highs and lows. Just to give back something to them is special,” Konstas was a touch emotional speaking about how the family reacted.

He had played at MCG for New South Wales when local hero Scott Boland got him out.

“It is a different wicket from when I have played earlier. Bowler friendly but playing at the MCG on sell out Boxing Day is a dream come true.”

His game has reminded a lot of people about Shane Watson and with two good innings against India A and the senior team, including a hundred in a pink ball practice match, he is ready to be the aggressor.

“I don’t look too much on social media but would take that as a compliment,” he seemed a bit shy as he spoke.

“I have learnt a lot from Shane Watson and I like to take the game on and put pressure on the bowlers. He is a legend of the game, and hopefully, I can do that this week on my debut.”

Tensions between the Indian cricket team, their travelling media contingent, and the Australian press reached a boiling point on Saturday following Ravindra Jadeja’s Hindi-only press conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The fallout included the Indian corresoondents boycotting a friendly T20 match against their Australian counterparts at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, which had been arranged by Cricket Australia as a goodwill gesture.

The friction started during India’s arrival in Perth last month, when the Australian media criticised the visitors for holding private training sessions at the WACA.

Things escalated earlier this week when Virat Kohli expressed frustration over being filmed at Melbourne airport with his two children, without permission, by Channel 7.

On Saturday, the controversy shifted to Jadeja, who addressed the media entirely in Hindi. According to Channel 7, the all-rounder ‘refused’ to answer questions in English, calling the press conference ‘disorganised and hopeless’.

The network also claimed that Jadeja abruptly ended the session, saying he needed to catch the team bus.

Contrary to these allegations, the press conference was specifically arranged for Indian journalists, who asked their questions in Hindi. Jadeja’s responses aligned with the language of the queries. Furthermore, he reportedly made no mention of a bus.

The Indian team’s media manager strongly refuted Channel 7’s claims, pointing out that the session was organised exclusively for the Indian media contingent. However, tensions rose when Australian journalists confronted the BCCI official on-site.

Adding fuel to the fire, Channel 7 alleged that another media interaction featuring pacer Akash Deep on Sunday was unproductive, as the bowler only spoke Hindi and could not communicate effectively with the Australian reporters.

The fallout led to the cancellation of Sunday’s scheduled friendly cricket match between Indian and Australian reporters. The Indian team’s media manager was the first to withdraw, with other Indian journalists following suit, leaving the event unfeasible.

Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich weighed in on the escalating disputes, describing them as strategic ‘mind games’ by the Indian camp. Speaking to Channel 7, where he also serves as a commentator, Katich said, ‘Obviously, there’s been a few things unfolding in the last week or so that haven’t gone down well at that camp. It’s probably just the mind games being played, given the enormity of this series.’

With the series tied at 1-1 after the Brisbane Test ended in a draw, all eyes will be on how the Indian team manages both on-field performance and off-field controversies.

India pace bowler Akash Deep played down concerns over skipper Rohit Sharma’s knee injury in the build-up to the fourth Test against Australia this week after the batsman was hit during a practice session on Sunday.

Rohit, who missed the opening Test to spend time with his newborn son and has been struggling for form since returning to the team, looked in discomfort after being struck on his left knee in the nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 37-year-old continued batting but later received care from a physiotherapist and had an ice pack strapped to his leg, which he rested on a chair.

“Such injuries are quite common when you play cricket and it doesn’t make much of a difference,” Akash told reporters, adding that the practice wicket had been challenging.

“I think this was a wicket for white-ball cricket, so the ball kept a bit low and it was a bit difficult to bat on. But such blows happen and it’s not a concern.”

India battled hard to earn a draw in the rain-interrupted third Test in Brisbane to leave the five-match series locked at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day clash.

The tourists won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs before crashing to a 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide.

“It’s 50-50 right now. In the last match, even though we were behind, we built some confidence. This Test match will be very important for both teams,” Akash said.

“Our mindset as fast bowlers is that we can get some quick wickets with the new ball and cause problems for them. We have seen in the three matches that we can create chances with the new ball.

“After 30 overs, however, you have to wait for the batsmen to make mistakes.”

On Saturday, KL Rahul was hit on his hand while batting at the nets at the MCG and was promptly attended to by the visiting team’s physio. India’s opener was hit on his right hand and seen in some discomfort. 

There was no clarity on the extent of injury and the team management did not issued any statement on why he had sought medical attention.

In a video that surfaced on social media, Rahul was seen holding the right hand while receiving treatment.

The opener was also hit on the arm during match simulation on November 17, but was fit to play the opening Test in Perth, five days later.

Rahul has been the team’s in-form batter in the ongoing tour, scoring 235 runs from six innings at an impressive average of 47.

The elegant right-hander has so far struck two half-centuries and is set to open the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the fourth Test.

Overall, he is the second highest scorer in the marquee series behind Australia’s swashbuckling middle-order batter Travis Head, who has already smashed two hundreds.