Australian debutant Sam Konstas reacted to his heated altercation with Indian superstar Virat Kohli on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

During the break between the 10th and 11th overs of the Australian innings, Konstas and Usman Khawaja were changing ends when Kohli walked towards the young opener and gave him a shoulder push mid-pitch.

The 19-year-old Konstas did not back down and turned to confront Kohli as the duo exchanged some words, prompting other players and umpires to intervene.

Speaking to 7 Cricket at the lunch break, Sam Konstas opened up about the spat with his favorite player.

“Virat Kohli is your favourite player in the world and all of a sudden you are in the thick of battle out there, he throws a little shoulder. What was being said out there?,” the presenter asked.

In reply, Konstas said: “I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite realise, I was doing my gloves. And then a little shoulder charge. But it happens, it’s cricket.”

Sam Konstas impressed one and all with his fearless batting approach on debut, scoring 60 off 65 balls with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes before being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja.

“I think it was a bit of a blur, but a dream come true. Look at the turnout, full stadium. But yeah, the boys have been very welcoming, Pat Cummins, and it feels like home,” he said.

The youngster also revealed the message he received captain Pat Cummins before his debut Test innings.

“I think just being fearless, Cummins was telling me. We had our Christmas lunch yesterday, seeing the kids enjoy it, and yeah, you can tell it’s a really family-united group, so yeah, very stoked.”

Konstas played some audacious strokes to unsettle the Indian pacers, especially Jasprit Bumrah. During the seventh over of Australia’s first innings, he executed a conventional scoop, sending Bumrah's delivery over the wicketkeeper for a boundary. He followed up with a stunning reverse ramp shot for six, sailing over the slip cordon to leave the commentators and spectators in awe.

Konstas continued his dominance over Bumrah, smashing the Indian pace spearhead for another six in the 11th over. This made him only the second batter, after England's Jos Buttler, to hit two sixes off Bumrah in a single Test innings.

Talking about his plan against Bumrah, Konstas said: “It wasn’t a plan yesterday. I was going to play good cricket shots, but Bumrah is obviously a world-class bowler, and yeah, just trying to put pressure on him, trying to change his tactics was the key thing.”

Konstas was over the moon after acknowledging the huge crowd at the iconic MCG. “I actually had goosebumps when I raised my bat. Everyone was supporting me, so yeah, great atmosphere here,” he said.