Former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja has criticised Yashasvi Jaiswal after the latter got involved in an on-field spat with Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando. The incident took place on Day 1 of the second Test between the sides in Colombo. The Sri Lanka pacer dismissed Jaiswal and gave him a send-off. Jaiswal didn’t like it and returned from his walk to the pavilion to indulge in a heated altercation with the bowler. The two exchanged a few words, clashed heads, and there was also a push before they were separated by the rest of the Sri Lankan team.
“It is dangerous territory. There is no doubt about that. Physical contact is a different thing. In the last match, Jaiswal was on the other side. He was fielding, and he said things to Niroshan Dickwella, and we said that banter is nice as long as there is nothing wrong with your language,” Jadeja said on Sony Sports.
“The same thing happened, but if someone cannot laugh at himself, he shouldn’t laugh at others. If you can’t take it back, don’t say it to others either while standing on the ground,” he added.
After the end of play on Day 1, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said Jaiswal should not have gone “that close” to Sri Lanka pacer Fernando during their heated on-field exchange.
The incident occurred in the 17th over after Fernando, having conceded three boundaries to Jaiswal, dismissed the Indian opener on the final delivery. The two players then exchanged words and came face-to-face, with some body contact, before Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva stepped in to calm the situation.
Speaking at the post-day press conference, Sitanshu Kotak said the exchange likely stemmed from a comment by the bowler in the heat of the moment while acknowledging that Jaiswal should not have moved so close to Fernando.
“I think the bowler must have made some comment, and it was probably said in the heat of the moment. Obviously, I don’t think Jaiswal should have gone that close, but these things happen in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said.