Decoded: What did animated Ravi Shastri tell to the on-field umpires?

During the third and final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, there was a drama as Sri Lankan players were struggling to cope with the polluted air of Delhi. With two players were finding it difficult to continue they left the pitch for further medical attention. During the second day’s play when Sri Lankan players, who were playing with masks, held up play twice complaining about their problem to inhale the polluted air.

With Sri Lanka players unwilling to continue, Indian head coach Ravi Shastri rushed onto the field and asked umpires Nigel Llong and Joel Willson to carry on because they want to win the match. Before Shastri, Sri Lankan team manager Asanka Gurusinha also consulted with umpires.

After the day’s play got over, Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun, who addressed a press conference after the second day’s action-packed day in New Delhi, Indian’s capital.

Bowling coach Arun is not impressed with Sri Lanka

“Ravi’s take was pretty simple. He said ‘please get on with the game, you don’t need to stop. You take a decision and just get on with the game’,” Arun said on Sunday according to IBTimes.

‘Team India not worried about pollution’

The thing is that BCCI even after knowing that level of pollution in Delhi from October to February scheduled the match in Delhi.

However, Arun argued with Sri Lankan point of view. “Virat batted close to two days. He did not need a mask. We are focused on what we need to do. The conditions are the same for both teams and we are not too bothered about it,” Arun said.

He added, “I think pollution is everywhere in our country. These pollution levels are serious in our country. I don’t think we were too worried about pollution. The BCCI scheduled this match so Team India will only focus on the win, not on pollution.”