Experts and former cricket players harshly condemned Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s altercation with Asitha Fernando on the first day of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo. Fernando unleashed a delivery from around the wicket that came sharply into the India opener after Jaiswal was removed for 45 from 53 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal tried to hit through the off side, but the ball ended up on the stumps due to a heavy inside edge.
The two players got into a furious argument that turned physical. Yashasvi Jaiswal was still wearing his helmet when their heads made contact in what appeared to be a shove rather than a direct headbutt. Devdutt Padikkal tried to pull Jaiswal away, but Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened to diffuse the altercation. Before things were finally brought under control, the India opener kept moving in Fernando’s direction.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Fernando were also fined 25% of their match fees by the ICC on Monday.
Additionally, each player received one demerit point. Jaiswal responded to the criticism in a social media post before to the start of the second day, defending his actions and claiming that nobody knew what was truly spoken to him in the midst. He concluded by stating, “India knows how to give back.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal might have been irritated after failing to convert a start once more, according to former India batsman WV Raman.
Karim describes the encounter as needless and puerile.
Saba Karim, a former national selector, called the two players’ conduct juvenile and said they should be reminded that cricket is not a contact sport. Karim went on to say that since many young people watch the games, the athletes must act appropriately as the sport’s brand ambassadors.
