BCCI source explains the reason behind Anushka Sharma's presence at the Indian High Commission

Indian cricket witnessed an off-field controversy erupting on Wednesday, on the eve of the second England-India Test at Lord’s, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a photo on social media showing actress Anushka Sharma accompanying her husband Virat Kohli, the captain of the Indian team as well as the squad at the Indian High Commission in London.

The cricket board faced flak over the photo with some social media users questioning how Sharma was posing with Kohli in the first row while Ajinkya Rahane, the team’s vice-captain, was standing in the last row. Also, no other WAGS (wives and girlfriends) were invited to the commission, another factor that added to the controversy.

BCCI posted the photo on Twitter with the caption: #TeamIndia members at the High Commission of India in London and reactions came pouring soon after. The board’s sources, however, told Hindustan Times that no official protocol was broken since the high commission had invited the team players with their families.

“This is the norm wherever the team travels. The High Commission invites the players with their relatives and it is eventually the decision of the individuals. Even in London, the players were invited along with their partners. There has been no breach of any protocol,” the source was quoted as saying.

A source at the Indian High Commission also clarified that the Bollywood actress was invited by the High Commissioner and his wife for the dinner. He also went on to say that Rahane wasn’t asked to stand in the back row and he might have stood their on his own.

“Anushka Sharma came to the reception for the Indian cricket team at the invitation of the High commissioner and his wife. The reception was hosted by the High Commissioner and his wife and not the High Commission. The group photo was taken as the team were entering the house. Ajinkya Rahane may have stood at the back on his own He wasn’t asked to stand there. The reception was at the high commissioner’s residence and not at the high commission,” he said.

Anushka Sharma is known for appearing in the stands to witness her husband’s game and the couple is known to display affection for each other whenever Kohli touches a milestone and cherish.

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