Virat Kohli was left fuming after Sri Lanka players complained about air quality, which lead to multiple delays in play during the post-lunch session, at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla on Sunday.
Play was halted for 17 minutes after lunch as the visiting players, led by skipper Dinesh Chandimal, wanted to leave the field of play complaining of severe pollution. The Lankans were seen wearing anti-pollution masks during the post-lunch session. The play was halted between 12:32 pm to 12:49 pm after which the umpires and match referee David Boon convinced them to continue. However, there was another stoppage of play in the 127th over when Lakmal walked off the field after bowling the fifth ball. The umpires once again got together, chatting with Chandimal and Angelo Mathews. Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha and India coach Ravi Shastri also joined in.
Dilruwan Perera finished the over and Sandakan bowled the next before Chandimal stopped play because there were only 10 Sri Lankans on the field. Unhappy with the multiple stoppages in play, Kohli decided to declare India’s first innings at 536/7d. Kohli’s declaration signal clearly communicated his displeasure about the events during the second session of play.
Chandimal walked up to the on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Nigel Llong to complain about the poor air quality, complaining that his fast bowler was finding it difficult to breathe.
Kohli, who was dismissed for 243 after the proceedings resumed, was in no mood to leave the field and lay down on the ground to take a break.
