Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri can’t be blamed for going to a book launch: says Farokh Engineer

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Farokh Engineer has defended captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri for going to the latter’s book launch two days before the start of the fourth test at the Oval.

On August 31, Shastri’s book, titled ‘Stargazing: The Players in My Life’, had a launch event, and the Indian coach was tested positive for Covid-19 five days later.

India head coach Ravi Shastri has since been isolating with bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physio Nitin Patel.

“People are blaming Ravi Shastri for it. He has done wonders for Indian cricket. You can’t blame them for going to a book launch. They did not go outside the hotel; they were inside. It’s very easy to blame somebody, to pinpoint somebody,” said Engineer in an interview to Sports Tak.

“People keep coming to us for a selfie, and all the time you can’t say no. Ravi and Virat must have done the same thing, or shaked hands with people. But how would they know if someone is Covid positive? So you can’t really blame Ravi and Virat although I believe a lot of blame is being laid on him,” added the Engineer.

India were 2-1 up in the series heading into the final test but the match was cancelled after their India’s physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning on Sept. 19 in Dubai, there was no real prospect of the Manchester test being pushed back on this tour.

India will return to England in July to play three Twenty20 matches and an equal number of one-day internationals.

It was a tame end to a thrilling series lit up by the sublime batting of England captain Joe Root, who smashed three centuries in the opening three matches, and India’s excellent seam bowling, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah.