Anushka 'in place of Dhawan' at Lord's? Fans slam BCCI for 'Team India' photo at HC in London

Members of the senior national cricket team visited the High Commission of India in London on Tuesday, two days before the second Test of the ongoing five-Test series.

The team had reached London from Birmingham earlier this week and even had a training session at the Lord's Cricket Ground yesterday. Amid the busy schedule, the members of the team and the support staff found time to visit the High Commission.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a photograph of Virat Kohli's team, along with the support staff and the Indian diplomats. Celebrated Bollywood actor and wife of the Indian captain, Anushka Sharma can also be seen in the photograph.

As it turns out, BCCI's caption for the photo: "#TeamIndia members at the High Commission of India in London (sic)," has irked quite a lot of cricket fans on the social media.

Fans have questioned the BCCI weather Anushka is part of "Team India" and why only Kohli and not the other players posed with their partners during the high-profile meeting.

Kohli and Anushka, who tied the knot in December last year, have been spending time together in the United Kingdom. The 30-year-old actor had attended the first Test in Birmingham and cheered for the team from the Edgbaston stands.

Check out how Twitter users have reacted to "Team India" photo of the BCCI.

"Vice captain is in last row and First Lady of Indian cricket is in front row. These people giving lecture online few days back. @AnushkaSharma," a user wrote on the social media platform.

Some used the situation to poke fun at India's struggling batting order, especially opener Shikhar Dhawan.

"anushka sharma is also there in the squad so probably she will be included in the playing 11 too for the next match (sic)," a user posted to which another one replied: "In place of Dhawan."

"Difference between family photo and team photo. This is supposed to be a team event not family function," read one of the comments on BCCI's page.

"Why is Anoushka standing in first row? If wives are allowed than all players should have them in this pic. Not great signs (sic)," one of the critical fans wrote.

'Anushka Sharma's only identity is not Virat Kohli's wife'

Meanwhile, one of them pointed out that Anushka's identity is not just "Virat Kohli's wife" but she is an ambassador for Indian cinema.

"Because unlike the others, Anushka Sharma's only identity is not "Virat Kohli's wife", she is an ambassador for Indian Cinema in the foreign countries her hubby travels to play cricket, you guys seem to forget that. It's not a BCCI team meeting anyway."

Meanwhile, Team India will be hoping to level the Test series in Lord's as the two teams meet in the second match of the ongoing five-Test rubber from Thursday.