After a dramatic second day at Feroz Shah Kotla, Team India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun on Sunday took potshots at the Sri Lankan team after the visitors consistently complained about the poor air quality that prompted some Sri Lankan fielders to leave the field. Play after the lunch session had multiple stoppages with Lankan players sporting pollution masks while fielding. Arun was not too impressed with the visiting team’s antics and took a dig at them by pointing to the amount of time Kohli batted without any hindrances.
“Virat batted close to two days and he didn’t need a mask. We’ve focused on what we need to do and achieve for the team.”
“Conditions are same for both teams,” Arun said.
“There is pollution everywhere in India. BCCI has fixed the schedule. Our job is to go and play so we are focusing on that,” Arun said at the post-match conference at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground.
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli was also left rather annoyed after Sri Lanka players complained about air quality, which lead to multiple delays in play during the post-lunch session. 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.
