Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has heaped praise on Sam Konstas for his debut in the ongoing five-match test series and also voiced his support for Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to regain their form ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
The 19-year-old Konstas, caught the attention of the cricketing world after putting a display when Bumrah was at his peak. He smashed a 60-run off 65 balls on the opening day, showcasing unconventional shots like scoops against Bumrah.
Watson has mentored Konstas admitted that the youngster’s approach and extroverted personality caught his off guard.
“Sam is usually quiet and reserved, a deep thinker. But what we saw on the field was a completely different side to him. He’s a natural showman who thrives on the big stage. He wasn’t overawed by the occasion and showed remarkable confidence,” said Watson.
Australia camp is preparing Konstas for his home ground appearance where he will become the youngest Australian to feature in a test at the venue.
“The second innings at Melbourne showed that teams are already adjusting to Sam’s game. India changed their field placements, and Bumrah dismissed him with an inducker,” Watson noted.
“This is where we’ll see Sam’s evolution – how he adapts to the best bowlers in the world. He has the gears and technical soundness to make quick adjustments.”
As the cricketing world gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025, Watson turned his attention to India’s marquee players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who faced criticism for their recent performances in the series.
“I don’t think it (current poor form) will really play a part at all with Rohit Sharma and Virat’s impact in one-day cricket. It’s going to be different conditions where they’re playing in Dubai. One-day cricket does really free them both as well,” said Watson.
“Kohli is an absolute master of one-day cricket…Yes, he’s a master of all formats, but especially ODIs. You see his extraordinary numbers over a long period of time, averaging around 57 and a strike rate of 93 over a long period of time.”
“It’s crazy to think of the control that he has over his innings…We’ll see that again in the Champions Trophy. Rohit, like we saw in the one-day World Cup (2023), when he was at his very best, he was taking on the game,” Watson added.
He further highlighted the tournament’s role along with the World Cups keeping alive and ensuring the relevance of the 50-over format int the cricket calendar.
“It’s unfortunate that India isn’t travelling to Pakistan. India-Pakistan games are iconic, especially in ICC events. However, the Champions Trophy itself is vital for keeping ODI cricket alive amidst the dominance of Tests and T20 leagues,” Watson remarked.
