Yashasvi Jaiswal might face action from the ICC after a tense exchange with Asitha Fernando during the second Test match in Colombo on Sunday. The Indian opener’s helmet unintentionally struck the Sri Lankan bowler when they were involved in a heated moment on the field.
India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, suggested that the incident could have been a reaction in the heat of the moment. However, he emphasized that Jaiswal should not have made physical contact with Fernando. “It’s likely that words were exchanged, leading to the situation. Jaiswal shouldn’t have come so close to Fernando, but in such high-pressure games, these things can happen,” Kotak commented during a press conference after the day’s play.
The confrontation occurred right after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 runs with a well-placed delivery. As Jaiswal left the field, Fernando offered him a send-off, which prompted Jaiswal to respond and confront the pacer. The altercation escalated, resulting in Jaiswal’s helmet making contact with Fernando’s forehead, and both players exchanged heated words before Sri Lanka’s captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, stepped in to defuse the situation.
This incident may fall under the ICC’s Code of Conduct, particularly Article 2.12, which addresses “inappropriate physical contact” in international matches. Ryan van Niekerk, the bowling coach for Sri Lanka, noted that it’s now up to the match referee to evaluate what took place, as Andy Pycroft is overseeing the Test.
“The emotions can run high in these situations, and it’s for the match referee to handle,” van Niekerk said. If found guilty of a Level 1 offense, Jaiswal could face a range of penalties from a simple reprimand to a fine up to 50% of his match fee, with one or two demerit points possibly being added to his record.
The incident overshadowed what had been a promising start to Jaiswal’s innings until he was ultimately out to a well-executed delivery from Fernando. Now, as the match referee looks into the details of the conflict, Jaiswal may face disciplinary measures based on the officials’ conclusions.
