Sam Konstas reveals what he REALLY thinks of Virat Kohli – and explains the strange habit that’s seen him get compared to Elvis Presley

Sam Konstas had a fiery clash with Virat Kohli when the Indian star dropped his shoulder into him in the first session of the Boxing Day Test – but prior to that, the Aussie wonderkid was one of the former skipper’s biggest fans.

A clip of the 19-year-old taken before he was called up to the Australian team sees him get asked to choose three people he would love to receive a text message from.

Konstas – who is wearing his NSW uniform in the video – replies: ‘Shane Watson will be one, hopefully Dad, and maybe Virat Kohli.’ 

Former Test star Watson is Konstas’s long-time mentor, so the fact the youngster mentioned Kohli alongside him and his father is telling.  

And when the batter was asked to name the most famous person he’s ever met in a previous interview before his call-up for his country, he replied, ‘Probably Virat Kohli in Canberra,’ referring to his first action against India in the Prime Minister’s XI game earlier this summer, when he scored a lightning century.

All the headlines from Konstas’s stellar debut innings have revolved around the ugly clash and his incredible thrashing of the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, with a series of risky ramp shots.

However, some cricket fans – including commentator Stephen Quartermain – picked up on something else during Konstas’s time at the crease: his habit of talking to himself and twisting his top lip into a sneer that’s reminiscent of Elvis Presley.

Australia’s brightest new star discussed both when he was interviewed on Channel Seven just before the start of play on Friday.

‘You have this little squint in your right eye when you’re facing up and you’re talking to yourself as the bowler’s about to run in. Tell us, what is the squint about and what are you saying to yourself here?’ former player turned commentator Trent Copeland asked.

Konstas laughed before replying, ‘I’m not too sure what the squint is about but I’m trying to get my right eye to the bowler, and then what I’m saying is, “Where’s the ball? Where’s the ball?”

‘It’s just so I can react to the ball and not premeditate [my shot], but obviously, certain shots I’m premeditating.

‘For me, I’m just trying to be in that zone and do that every ball.’

The stunning display at the MCG saw Konstas smash 60 from just 65 balls, with six boundaries and two sixes before he fell LBW to Ravindra Jadeja. 

That saw him belt 18 off Bumrah in the most expensive over of the star’s career, and he also hit the No.1-ranked bowler in the world for his first six in more than 4000 deliveries.

Konstas went from 6000 Instagram followers to more than 105,000 overnight as fans went wild over his daring knock. 

Aussie cricket tragics and experts including West Indian great Ian Bishop to hail the innings as one of the greatest debuts they’ve seen – with one fan even calling for his image to be added to the nation’s currency. 

Coming in for axed opener Nathan McSweeney, Konstas survived a brutal first over from Bumrah, when he played and missed four times, to rattle India. 

By the ninth over, India had reverted to putting fielders out to the boundary in a bid to tame the NSW whiz kid’s attacking attitude.

The country’s 468th male Test cricketer, Konstas was presented with his baggy green cap by storied former Australia captain Mark Taylor.

He is the fourth youngest Australian male to play at Test level.

Konstas’ innings evoked memories of former star opener David Warner’s international debut, coming at the MCG against South Africa in 2009.

But while Warner did it in a Twenty20, Konstas made his mark on the biggest day on the Australian cricket calendar when the Border-Gavaskar series is still delicately poised at 1-1.