Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has responded to criticism following an on-field confrontation with Sri Lankan bowler Asitha Fernando during the second Test in Colombo. The incident occurred after Jaiswal was dismissed for 45 runs, when Fernando delivered an animated send-off that prompted the batter to turn back and engage in a heated exchange. The confrontation escalated with physical contact between the players before captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened to separate them.
Commenting analyst Harsha Bhogle weighed in on the altercation, suggesting that Jaiswal should have walked away regardless of what was said to him on the field. In response, Jaiswal took to social media to defend his actions, asserting that observers making judgments lacked full knowledge of the circumstances. He stated that when someone crosses a line, appropriate responses are necessary, emphasizing that the Indian team will not shy away from confrontation. The batter’s message indicated that Fernando had said something he considered unacceptable, though neither player has publicly disclosed the specific words exchanged.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak acknowledged that Fernando likely provoked the incident but maintained that Jaiswal should not have approached the bowler so closely. While the coaching staff appeared sympathetic to potential provocation, they stopped short of fully endorsing the physical contact. The incident raises questions about conduct standards, as ICC regulations prohibit physical retaliation regardless of verbal provocation during matches.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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