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The heat of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 was palpable on the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal engaged in a spirited exchange of words with Australia’s Sam Konstas during the second day of the fifth Test.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fiery sledging incident with Sam Konstas
The incident unfolded when Konstas, who had been a thorn in India’s side with his aggressive batting and chirping in the field, found himself at the receiving end of Jaiswal’s sledging. As Konstas struggled to find the boundary, Jaiswal was heard taunting him, saying, “Kya ho gaya, ab shots nahi dikh rahe kya? Oye Konstas, shot nahi lag rahe kya abhi?” which translates to, “What happened, are you not playing any shots now? Hey Konstas, can’t you hit a shot anymore?” This moment was captured on video and quickly circulated across social media platforms, highlighting the competitive spirit and the traditional sledging culture of cricket between India and Australia.
Here is the video:
🗣 "𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙣𝙖𝙝𝙞 𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙜 𝙧𝙖𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙮𝙖 𝙖𝙗𝙝𝙞?" 😂
What goes around, comes around! #Jaiswal giving #SamKonstas a taste of his own medicine, desi style! 🤣#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 5th Test, Day 2 | LIVE NOW! | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/o7XAV0M5HU
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 4, 2025
Also WATCH: Indian players celebrate in front of Sam Konstas after Usman Khawaja’s dismissal on final ball of Day 1 in 5th Test – AUS vs IND
Mental warfare: Konstas’ antics and Jaiswal’s resilience
This verbal joust came at a time when both players were trying to assert dominance in the match. Konstas had previously made headlines with his fearless approach, both with the bat and his antics on the field, often getting under the skin of the Indian players. Jaiswal, on the other hand, had been a consistent performer for India in this series, showing resilience and adaptability in his batting. The sledging was not just banter but a reflection of the mental warfare that is often part of cricket, especially in a high-stakes series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Impact on the game
While sledging is a part of cricket’s theatre, this incident seemed to have repercussions on the field. Konstas was dismissed soon after, caught by Jaiswal himself at gully, which added a layer of irony to the episode. Jaiswal’s words appeared to have had the intended effect, perhaps unsettling Konstas or at least serving as a morale booster for Jaiswal and his team.
