India and Sri Lankan teams are to start their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series on Sunday, December 10, with the first match to be played at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. From the Indian side, with its skipper Virat Kohli being given a much-needed rest, Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the three-match series.
After a commanding performance in the Tests, the men in blue will eye yet another whitewash against the Lankan lions.
However, ahead of the ODI series, something interesting has come to light from the Indian side over last week’s controversy during one of the test matches at Delhi, where the Sri Lankan players complaint about Delhi’s air and took to field wearing masks.
Indirectly referring to the incident, team India coach Ravi Shastri took to the social media and took a jibe at the visiting team just a day ahead of the first match at Dharamshala.
He took to his Twitter handle and posted a photo of the city telling the Indian players to breath easy at Dharamshala. This is what he has posted:
Breathe easy in Dharamsala #TeamIndia #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/DpvQZ7KQfq
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) December 8, 2017
And what follows is flowing in with mixed of reactions from the social media users. While many joint with the Indian coach in the indirect attack on the Sri Lankan players, some praised and appreciated him for his ‘fitting’ reply on the visiting team.
Here’s how people reacted on Ravi Shastri’s jibe at the Sri Lankan players:
Shastri ji ne maar dala..breathe easy in Dharamsala.. This is pure Gold @RusselArnold69
— Deepesh Kanabar (@deepeshmdk1906) December 8, 2017
Sri lanka team had pollution problem when kohli was about to score 300 runs when mathews m chandimal scored 100 they got solution to pollution shame on sri lanka team
— sanju verma (@sanjuve97468043) December 9, 2017
Hahaha… you should join politics Sastri ji… 😆😆😆
— ❤️MahiRat FanClub ❤️ (@MahiRatFans) December 8, 2017
😄😄😄 Nail it buddy #INDvSL
— TestCaptain (@TestCaptain1) December 8, 2017
hahahahahaha….may be @OfficialSLC say they cant play close to mountain,because its so cold.
— The Cricket World : Asia (@tcwasia) December 8, 2017
Ha Ha Ha, Nice to give it back, All d Best for 6-0 in Shorter Format
— MILIND K. ALSHI (@MilindK_Alshi) December 8, 2017
haha haha they will face the same problem my seeing our batsmen in Dharamsala
— santosh (@iamsantoshnani) December 8, 2017
At the same time, Ravi Shatri’s jibe at the Sri Lankan players doesn’t go down well with many. They took the chance and hit back at the Indian coach on various issues.
The man who did not have six different sentences in commentry,Man who conspired to send Kumble home,Man who’s own fast bowler vomited at dirty capital city is now Breathing easy.Who cares if you breathe or not.
— Dilip Janaka Kumara (@dilip_janaka) December 8, 2017
Did you finally get your head out of your mum’s arsehole Ravi? No wonder you can breathe easy!! #INDvSL #INDvsSL #slvIND
— Rajeev (@rsb95) December 8, 2017
It is very unfortunate that a celebrity glorifies bad things
— Prashant Deshmukh (@prashantvd75) December 9, 2017
Have you ever met @anilkumble1074 after you back stabbed him?
— Dilip Janaka Kumara (@dilip_janaka) December 8, 2017
I think whatever the happened in Delhi. We have to think positively. Pollution is big problem for world. Instead of commenting on Shrilanka players can we work on Delhi pollution problem?
— ANIRUDDHA MORE (@ANIRUDDHAKMORE) December 9, 2017
Meanwhile, having won five straight bilateral series apart from reaching Champions Trophy final, a 3-0 win will put India on top of ICC ODI rankings, overtaking South Africa.
