A spicy series took another twist on day one of the final Test as India captain Jasprit Bumrah was involved in a heated exchange with Australian teenager Sam Konstas, who he stared down after dismissing Usman Khawaja.

A crowd of almost 48,000 poured into the Sydney Cricket Ground for the opening day of a hotly anticipated Test. Australia lead the five-match series 2-1, needing a draw or win to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014. India need a victory to continue a proud record in Australia, where they have won their last two series.

The context

The final match of this series has had an extraordinary build-up for the Indians. On the eve of the game it emerged that veteran skipper Rohit Sharma, who has had a torrid tour, averaging 6.2, would be dropped from the XI, with Bumrah stepping up to lead the team. Bumrah was captain in the series opening win in Perth, with Rohit on paternity leave. In addition, reports emerged of a fiery dressing down from coach Gautam Gambhir after the team collapsed dramatically to lose a fine Melbourne Test in the final session of the match.

The beef

Sparks have flown between the two teams all series, with Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj bickering in Adelaide and the arrival of teenager Konstas creating further drama in Melbourne. He was bizarrely shoulder-barged by India batsman Virat Kohli on the first morning of the Boxing Day Test as he blazed away, taking on Bumrah in a manner no Australian had managed all series.

There has been controversy over umpiring, too, with India fans unhappy when Yashasvi Jaiswal was given out on the final day in Melbourne; on the first day in Sydney, they got lucky, with Kohli adjudged not out first ball when Steve Smith appeared to brilliantly parry an edge from second slip to gully. Third umpire Joel Wilson disagreed.

However, everything was going Australia’s way on day one of a Test that, just like the series, appeared to be sliding their way, with India bowled out for 185. That, however, left 15 awkward minutes for their openers to survive.

The wicket

Bumrah came into the Sydney Test with an extraordinary 30 wickets at 13 in four matches, having carried India’s attack on his own, but had stayed out of any arguments. As he had in Melbourne, Konstas took Bumrah on, skipping down and planting him over midwicket for four first ball.

Konstas tried a repeat dose and missed but, four balls into his second over, Bumrah was agitated as Khawaja pretended not to be ready in order to waste time and ensure this would be the final over of the day. At the non-striker’s end, 19-year-old Konstas stepped in uninvited, leading to an intervention from umpire Saikat of Bangladesh. The crowd loved the drama.

Khawaja left the next ball, only to edge the sixth of the over to second slip, where KL Rahul took a fine catch. As his team-mates celebrated wildly, the usually equanimous Bumrah turned to Konstas and appeared to give him a mouthful.

The reaction

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who had made 40 from 98 balls, the slowest innings of his freewheeling career, accused Australia of time-wasting.

“They [Konstas and Khawaja] wanted to waste some time,” Pant said. “I feel that’s the reason he had a conversation with Jasprit. He said something, I didn’t hear it. But I feel that’s the only thing he wanted to do, just waste some time so we didn’t bowl one more over.”

On Fox commentary, the legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist questioned why Konstas got involved in the first place.

“Konstas is going at him. I don’t really know if it’s much of his business, the young man,” Gilchrist said. “The umpire was very quick to get involved… He’s riled them here Konstas. It’s tightened the tension here for the last couple of deliveries.”

After the wicket, Gilchrist said: “They’re charging in from everywhere… all sorts of drama here.

“It was Bumrah who turned to Konstas. He learns a tough lesson in his second Test match.

“The celebration was somewhat unique. Normally it’s hands in the air but they all turned and fixed their eyes on one man.”