India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando were involved in a heated exchange following the left-hander’s dismissal in the IND vs SL 2nd Test, and it also led to some body contact between the duo.
The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test kicked off on Sunday morning in Colombo, with Shubman Gill, the Indian skipper, winning the toss and electing to bat first.
India made one change to their playing XI that beat the hosts in Galle: Kuldeep Yadav missed out due to illness, making way for off-spinner all-rounder Saransh Jain to earn his maiden Test cap.
Sri Lanka, too, had a debutant, Kamil Mishara, on their side, while Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who was the concussion sub for Dinesh Chandimal in Galle, being retained.
IND vs SL 2nd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando involved in scuffle, Video
As it happened in Galle, Jaiswal failed to convert his first-innings start into a substantial score in Colombo, falling for a well-made 45 off 53 balls, his knock including nine boundaries. While he was run-out in the 1st Test, today, he was dismissed by a jaffa of a delivery from speedster Fernando.
The pacer sent down a terrific delivery from around the wicket angle that drifted into Jaiswal and pitched on that perfect good length area outside the off-stump from where Jaiswal couldn’t get enough on the back foot.
The ball moved into the batter after pitching while Jaiswal remained rooted to the crease and played a daft punch. The red cherry beat Jaiswal’s inside edge by a distance and crashed into the stumps. The Indian opener stood for a few seconds, grappling with the enormity of his dismissal while Fernando and the Sri Lankan players celebrated loudly.
Fernando got a bit too aggressive and it seems he hurled some words towards Jaiswal during his animated celebration, prompting Jaiswal to turn around from his walk to the dressing room.
Jaiswal, not one to ever shy away from a verbal contest, walked right into Fernando with some heated words of his own. Tension flared even more as Jaiswal and Fernando locked heads – Jaiswal with his helmet on – for a breif moment.
The Sri Lankan players were quick to realize the growing situation and swiftly moved the two players away from each other.
Given that there was physical contact, even for a slight moment, both Jaiswal and Fernando could cop a fine from the ICC and perhaps even receive a demerit point each.
Watch the video of this incident here:
IND vs SL 2nd Test Playing XIs:
India: KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Prabath Jayasuriya, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Keshara Nuwantha, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Asitha Fernando
Before Jaiswal, India had lost KL Rahul in the 11th over, the right-hander managing only 18 runs. At the time of writing, India are 186/2, with both Padikkal and Gill reaching their respective half-centuries.
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