They are branded as the power couple of India, but both Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are no strangers to trolling on social media. Well, even when in London, they have been the targets of social media malice, this time for a photograph at the Indian High Commission in London.
Anushka Sharma was the only relative of a cricketer posing in the picture and this drew the ire of fans on Twitter.
#TeamIndia members at the High Commission of India in London. pic.twitter.com/tUhaGkSQfe
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 7, 2018
However, the BCCI clarified that there was no breach of protocol of any kind as the Indian High Commission had extended invitation to all the players along with the family.
BCCI offers clarification
"This is the norm wherever the team travels. The High Commission invites the players with their relatives and it is eventually the decision of the individuals. Even in London, the players were invited along with their partners. There has been no breach of any protocol," a source in the BCCI told Hindustan Times.
According to a report in the Ahmedabad Mirror, Anushka Sharma was asked by High Commissioner Yash Sinha's wife Girija to join her in the photograph.
"There were no protocols about the group image. Everyone stood as per their choice. Anushka was not in the frame in the first place. She was called by High Commissioner Yash Sinha's wife Girija Sinha. She told her 'please join us, I would be lone female in the photo otherwise," a BCCI source told the Mumbai Mirror.
Also, offering a reason over the position of Ajinkya Rahane in the photograph, the BCCI official said that there was no directive issued and the players stood according to their own will.
"Anushka Sharma came to the reception for the Indian cricket team at the invitation of the high commissioner and his wife. The reception was hosted by the High Commissioner and his wife and not the High Commission. The group photo was taken as the team were entering the house. Ajinkya Rahane may have stood at the back on his own He wasn't asked to stand there. The reception was at the high commissioner's residence and not at the high commission," the source added.
