India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando have been fined 25 per cent of their match fees and given one demerit point each by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following their heated exchange on Day 1 of the second Test. The incident occurred after Asitha Fernando dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and gave him a send-off, prompting the Indian batter to turn around and approach the Sri Lankan pacer. The two briefly made contact with their heads before players from both teams stepped in to calm things down.
“Both players were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match).” As a result, Jaiswal and Fernando were fined 25 per cent of their match fee and were handed one demerit point each,” the ICC said in a statement.
The governing body also confirmed that neither player had committed an offence in the previous 24 months.
The confrontation came moments after Fernando ended Jaiswal’s impressive innings. The Indian opener had hit three boundaries in the over before Fernando beat his defence with a delivery that crashed into the stumps.
As Jaiswal walked back towards the dressing room, he turned around and went towards Fernando. His helmet touched the fast bowler’s forehead before players from both sides intervened and stopped the situation from getting worse.
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India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted that Jaiswal could have handled the situation differently.
“I think maybe one of the bowlers may have commented something, and it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have gone so close, but that happens in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said after the end of play.
Jaiswal, however, defended his actions on social media and claimed that Fernando had crossed the line.
Responding to a Cricbuzz video featuring commentator Harsha Bhogle discussing the incident, Jaiswal wrote on Instagram, “If you don’t know what he said then please don’t make your judgement if anyone cross the line we need to let them know this India will fight and reply.”
The Cricbuzz video was posted on Sunday after Day 1, while Jaiswal’s comment came early on Monday before the start of Day 2.

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