NEW DELHI: It was clear on Day Two of this Test that the Indian cricketers and team management didn’t share Sri Lanka’s concerns about Delhi’s polluted air.

While bowling coach Bharat Arun had termed Sri Lanka’s stoppages over health concerns to their pacers a bit “unnecessary”, on Monday it was pacer Mohammad Shami’s turn to again make a snide remark after it emerged that some Lankan players had taken ill, vomited and required oxygen after playing in ‘very unhealthy’ Air Quality Index (AQI) levels at the Kotla.

“Pollution is an aspect that we seriously need to think about,” Shami said, “But what was being portrayed (by Sri Lanka), it wasn’t to that extent.” Having made his point, Shami acknowledged the dangers of playing in Delhi at this time of the year. “Also it could be termed that we are more used to pollution,” he said. “Our ability to adjust is much more compared to them (the Lankans). I think we need to check what the reasons for pollution are and try to minimize them. We are used to suffering from all these problems.”

While there were no stoppages in play on Monday when Sri Lanka batted, their captain complained of breathlessness on the field and used an inhaler at least on one occasion. “It was pretty much the same today as it was yesterday,” Angelo Mathews said when asked about the pollution levels. “Or even a bit worse, I’m not really sure. It’s up to the match referees and the umpires to take a call on that. We have to deal with it for the next three days.”

While sidestepping questions on whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) should mark AQI levels fit for play, Mathews denied the incident on Sunday had created bad blood between the two teams. “It was one of those unique occasions when none of us knew what to do,” he said. “It didn’t hamper the relations of the players at all. We play hard on the field but off the field we are great friends.”

It remains to be seen if things change when Lanka come out to bowl on Tuesday. Also of crucial importance will be match referee David Boon ’s report on the issue after this game.

