Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando were each fined 25 per cent of their match fees following a confrontation on the opening day of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo.
The incident took place in the 17th over of India’s first innings, immediately after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 off 53 balls, at which point the team total stood at 66.
Both players were found guilty of breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other person during an international match. Each was handed one demerit point. Neither player had any previous offences in the preceding 24-month period.
According to the ICC official statement, Jaiswal was walking quietly back to the dressing room when he turned around. Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal, and Jaiswal leant in, resulting in their heads making contact. Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
What did Dhruv Jurel reveal about the exchange between Jaiswal and Fernando?
Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel shed light on what triggered Jaiswal’s reaction after the dismissal. According to Jurel, Fernando was abusing Jaiswal continuously after taking his wicket, which prompted the Indian opener to turn back and confront the Sri Lankan pacer.
“When he got out, he was quietly walking back to the dressing room. He didn’t say anything. If you look at the footage, Jaiswal immediately turned around. The Sri Lankan pacer was abusing him. Jaiswal told me that he was abusing him nonstop. Jaiswal told him, It’s okay. You took my wicket, you can show normal aggression, but you can’t abuse me,” Jurel told Aakash Chopra.
When asked whether Jaiswal would respond if provoked, Jurel baked his India and Rajasthan Royals teammate to respond, while also stating the team will return any sort of provocation they have been provided.
“100 per cent. He will never start it; I have never seen him do that. He is always in the zone; he is always thinking about his batting. But if you provoke us, we will also return it,” Jurel added.
What did India’s batting coach say about Jaiswal’s role in the incident?
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier acknowledged that Jaiswal’s decision to move so close to Fernando was not ideal, though he contextualised it as a reaction in the heat of the moment. Kotak did not dispute that something was said by the bowler before the physical contact occurred.
“I think the bowler commented something, and it happened in the heat of the moment. Obviously, Jaiswal shouldn’t have gone so close to him, but it happened in the heat of the moment,” Kotak had said in the press conference after the day’s play.