BBL 2025-26: David Warner backs Sam Konstas to play natural game amid hype around youngster

Former Australian cricketer David Warner has advised Sam Konstas to keep himself grounded amid the sudden limelight he has been under on the back of a recent run-scoring spree. Warner and Konstas will be representing Sydney Thunder in the upcoming BBL, which is scheduled to commence on December 14.

The southpaw also spoke on a potential role in the middle order for the Thunder to accommodate a left-handed batter lower down. Coming back to Konstas, Warner was confident that the experienced players around the youngster will help him deal with the hype.

"That's more for a match-up and strategic point of view. We don't have that left-hander in the middle [order] that we've been looking for. It's a conversation we're having. The best form of currency is runs and he's [Sam Konstas] doing that at the moment. When you do get thrown in the limelight, it can be a deer in the headlights. You can get overwhelmed and sucked into the hype around everything. But he has great support around him that will keep him level-headed," stated Warner, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The erstwhile Australian opener underscored the importance of letting Konstas play his natural game. He also highlighted how crucial will it be to ensure the emerging player continues to enjoy his cricket amid all the expectations surrounding him.

"You just have to allow him to keep playing his natural game. He had his taste of Test cricket last year, he probably got a lot of advice, as you do as a youngster. But as a youngster, you have to try to take on board what you think is required for you. You have to stick true to what you believe in and how you go about your game. He might have changed things. For us, it's about protecting him and making sure he's enjoying the game," he added.

Coming to Warner's likely middle order role which he alluded to above, he has never been slotted in the middle order positions as far as T20s are concerned. Warner has opened in 382 of 423 T20 innings he has featured in.

The 2025-26 BBL will be the fourth BBL season Warner will play for Sydney Thunder. He enjoyed his best season in the BBL in the previous year as he scored 405 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 141.6.