Yashasvi Jaiswal became the centre of attention on the first day of the second Test in Colombo after Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando dismissed him for 45.
Jaiswal had looked comfortable at the crease. He hit nine fours and smashed three boundaries in the over just before his dismissal. After Fernando got his wicket, the bowler celebrated strongly, which seemed to include a send-off. Jaiswal then turned back and confronted him.
The two players came very close, with their helmets almost touching. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva quickly stepped in and stopped the situation from getting worse.
Both teams later played down the incident and called it an emotional moment in a tough Test match.
Kotak admits Jaiswal should not have gone so close
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said something from Fernando seemed to upset Jaiswal. However, he also accepted that Jaiswal should not have gone so close to the bowler. The Times of India also reported the incident and Kotak’s view.
“I think the bowler commented something and it happened in the heat of moment. Obviously Yashasvi shouldn’t have gone so close to him but it happened in the heat of the moment,” said Sitanshu Kotak.
Kotak gave a balanced view of the incident. The India camp did not fully defend Jaiswal’s reaction, but it also did not treat the incident as something very serious.
The incident happened in the 17th over. Fernando finally dismissed Jaiswal after the opener had hit three boundaries in the previous over.
Fernando bowled a length ball from round the wicket, and it came back into Jaiswal. The opener tried to play it through the off side but got an inside edge onto his stumps.
Jaiswal was bowled for 45 off 53 balls, ending an innings that looked set for a bigger score.
Fernando celebrated strongly after the wicket. Jaiswal first walked towards the pavilion but then returned to the bowler. They exchanged words and came very close. Dhananjaya de Silva quickly stepped in and calmed the situation.
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Sri Lanka coach sees emotion, not something unusual
Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk also described the incident as a normal part of intense Test cricket.
They had been trying to put India’s top-order batters under pressure from the start. Van Niekerk said this aggressive approach naturally brought some emotion into the game.
“Look it is hard Test cricket, isn’t it? When you’re coming up against a team like India, you can’t sit on the back foot and just bowl at them. I think from our side, it’s bringing the challenge all the time, trying to make sure we can create something,” said Ryan van Niekerk.
Van Niekerk said Fernando’s approach was part of Sri Lanka’s plan. The team wanted to keep India under pressure and not allow the batters to settle easily.
He also said that verbal exchanges can happen in such a competitive game. However, he made it clear that the match officials would decide if any action was needed.
“And so, from my point of view, I’ve really asked the bowlers to stand up and create something. The verbals are probably an overflow of emotion. I’ll leave that to the match referee to deal with,” he added.
His comments put the focus on ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. He will look at the available evidence and decide if the incident needs any further action.
You can check the full scoreboard of IND vs SL 2nd Test HERE
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Colombo: What happened between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando?
The incident came at an important stage of the session. Yashasvi Jaiswal was batting confidently and had scored 45 runs from 53 balls, including nine fours.
Fernando had conceded three boundaries in the previous over, so dismissing Jaiswal was a big moment for Sri Lanka.
Fernando then got Jaiswal out and celebrated strongly. Jaiswal did not seem happy with the send-off. He first walked towards the dressing room but then turned around and came back.
The two players exchanged words and moved very close to each other. Their helmets almost touched before Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva stepped in and separated them.
A Cricbuzz report by Prakash Govindasreenivasan covered Kotak’s comments and van Niekerk’s views on the intense contest.
Could Yashasvi Jaiswal or Asitha Fernando face sanctions?
The big question now is whether the incident will remain a heated moment in the Test or turn into an ICC disciplinary case.
Fernando’s send-off could be reviewed if the match officials feel that his celebration went too far. The issue could become more serious if video footage shows any improper physical contact between Jaiswal and Fernando.
However, the players were separated quickly, and both teams have described the incident as an emotional moment. This could help them avoid any serious punishment.
For India, the main focus will now be on the match. Jaiswal made 45 before his dismissal, while KL Rahul had already lost his wicket. They ended the morning session at 66/2 after Shubman Gill chose to bat first. India started the second Test with a 1-0 lead after beating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle.
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The Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Asitha Fernando fight may become only a small part of the bigger Test. Still, it has added more drama to the contest. Both teams appear to agree that emotions took over in the heat of the moment.
For now, both coaches have asked everyone to look at the incident calmly. The match referee will decide whether any formal action is needed.
The cricket remains more important than the confrontation, but the incident could still lead to consequences.
Will the Jaiswal-Fernando confrontation remain a fiery Test cricket moment, or could the match referee hand down sanctions?
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