WATCH | Gamage and Lakmal walk off the field amidst confusion surrounding Delhi’s air quality

India started Day 2 full of confidence after having scored 371/4 at stumps on Day 1. With Virat Kohli in supreme form, India started the second day where they had left off as the Indian skipper raced to his sixth double century in just over a year. However, that wasn’t the biggest talking point of the day. 

The air-quality index at the Feroz Shah Kotla was placed at "very unhealthy" for the day and the players seemed to be struggling in the pollution-full air. This resulted in Dinesh Chandimal having a long conversation with the umpires about the safety of the playing conditions at the end of which the Sri Lankan skipper had a small team meeting and decided to carry on. Ironically, on the very next ball, Gamage sent Ashwin packing as the Indian edged a ball to gully. However, as Gamage finished the over and bowled three balls for the next one, he walked off the field, not able to play anymore. A couple of overs later, Lakmal followed his bowling partner into the pavilion, not to return again. 

video_2 from Khiladi on Vimeo.

After Lakmal walked off the field, Sri Lankan team manager Asanka Gurusinha walk in to discuss the conditions with the umpire. Seeing this Ravi Shastri, too, made his way out to sort out the problem. Eventually, the umpires decided that the conditions, though not ideal, were good enough to conduct a game of cricket.