MELBOURNE, DEC 22 : The excitement of teenage batsman Sam Konstas is undeterred by the prospect of facing Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as one of the most lethal pacers in world cricket.

“I won’t watch too much [of him]. I have already seen him a lot. But I am excited to challenge myself and face him,” Konstas said, brimming with confidence as he prepares to debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Bumrah, who has dominated Australian batsmen on three prior tours, has an exceptional record of 53 wickets at an average of 17.15 in Australia, the best for any overseas bowler with over 50 Test wickets.

Konstas earned his place in the Australian XI after a scintillating 107 off 97 balls for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, where he tackled an Indian attack featuring Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, and Akash Deep. However, Bumrah was absent from that match.

Acknowledging Bumrah’s prowess, Konstas remains undaunted. “I’m super confident, just backing my skills. I’ve done all the hard work. It’s just another game, and I’ll try to keep it simple,” he remarked.

The young New South Wales cricketer was informed of his selection by head selector George Bailey, with skipper Pat Cummins later confirming his spot in the team. Konstas replaces Nathan McSweeney in the squad and received hearty congratulations from his teammates, including fellow New South Wales star Steve Smith.

“It was all a bit unexpected, but I feel very privileged to get the opportunity,” Konstas shared. “I just had dinner with the family [to celebrate]. It was emotional—mum was crying. Everything has happened so fast.”

Reflecting on his cricketing journey, Konstas expressed gratitude to his family. “Mum and dad and my brothers, all their sacrifices, taking me to training, throwing me balls, experiencing the journey through highs and lows. Just to give something back to them was very special. I can’t wait to have them in Melbourne for support.”

The Boxing Day Test is pivotal in the ongoing series, currently tied at 1-1 following a hard-fought draw in Brisbane. The match begins on 26 December at the iconic MCG.