Farokh Engineer reached out to his "friend" Ravi Shastri to put him in touch with Virat Kohli yesterday evening after the former India wicketkeeper's comments in a national daily upset the India skipper's Bollywood actor wife Anushka Sharma.

While ridiculing the credentials of MSK Prasad's selection committee, Manchester-based Engineer, now in India, reportedly claimed that one of the five selectors was seen serving tea to Anushka during a World Cup match in England.

'High regards for both'

"I believe Virat is upset about it [reported comments]. I would love to speak with him. I am trying to get in touch with Ravi and connect with him. I am friendly with Ravi and if I had Virat's number, I would [have] certainly called him. Virat and Anushka are an inspiration to all Indians. I have the highest regard for them. They make for an ideal couple and we are very proud of them," Engineer, 82, told mid-day yesterday.