Shastri slams O’Keefe: The Indian Head Coach has given a fitting reply to the Australian commentator for his racist comment.
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Apart from witnessing on-field banter between the players, the ongoing Test series between Australia and India has also witnessed off-field banter between former cricketers and fans and between current coach and commentator.
The this one is the latest category of genres of banter in this series, involving India Head Coach Ravi Shastri and former Australia cricketer and current commentator Kerry O’Keefe.
The banter was related to the latter’s racist comments on the Indian domestic circuit on the first day of the match when debutant Mayank Agarwal was batting. Having compared the Indian domestic players to ‘canteen staff’, O’Keefe had let down plentiful of Indian fans and cricketers.
[yuzo_related]
“Let’s not take it from [Mayank]. [India] could have easily been three down for 80 and it would have been a different ball game. He dug deep and he’s got a message for Kerry – when you do open your canteen, he wants to come and smell the coffee. And he wants to compare it to the ones back home in India. Is the coffee better here in your canteen, or the one back home?,” Shastri was quoted as saying on Fox Sports.
It is worth mentioning that O’Keefe had later apologised for his comments. “It’s a fair reply, Ravi. You’ve been sitting on it all day,” he replied as both of them were sitting next to each other on the panel.
Talking about the match, India have dismissed Australia on 151 in 66.5 overs. Having gained a gargantuan 292-run lead, India have decided to bat again. The visitors would be looking to put a formidable target for the the hosts in their second innings.
Watch the video and read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Shastri below:
Ravi Shastri responds to Kerry O’Keefe’s “joke” pic.twitter.com/WWtXnO7oK3
— Thejas (@Jazz_CB) December 27, 2018
Unnecessary response. Win the series 3-1 instead. https://t.co/WzKTNE1h6a
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 28, 2018
storm in a coffee cup
— Will Davies (@WillMHDavies) December 28, 2018
Unnecessary? I think of all the times Ravi has opened his mouth since becoming coach, this was the most important. Should never let casual racism go scot free.
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) December 28, 2018
Unnecessary? This is a serious dig at Indian domestic cricket, the same format that Ian Chappell calls as Gold standard in cricket for batting. Someone needs to remind Keefe the kind of mess Australia are in wrt their batting before making such jibes
— Akshay Natarajan (@akshaynatarajan) December 28, 2018
