India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has defended himself after his huge fight with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando on Day 1 of 2nd Test in Colombo on Sunday.
Updated: August 24, 2026, 2:05 PM IST
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Yashasvi Jaiswal facing off against Asitha Fernando on Day 1 of 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday(Photo: PTI)
India vs Sri Lanka 2026 2nd Test: Team India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has found himself in huge trouble after his physical confrontation with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando on Day 1 of 2nd Test at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo on SundayThe incident occurred in the 17th over of Day 1 after pacer Fernando, having conceded three boundaries to Jaiswal, struck back to dismiss the RR opener on the final ball of his over.
The two players then exchanged words and came face-to-face, with what appeared to be clashing of their heads, before Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva stepped in to calm the situation down.
Jaiswal on Monday hit back at criticism over his heated clash with Fernando, saying people should know what was said to him before passing ‘judgement’ on his reaction.
“If you don’t know what he said then please don’t make your judgment if anyone cross the line we need to let them know this India will fight and reply,” Jaiswal commented on a video posted by Cricbuzz website on Instagram, discussing the incident.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has commented on his fight with Asitha Fernando(Source: X)
In the video, Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle said the best thing for Jaiswal to do would have been to simply walk away“All I want to say to Jaiswal is… yes, maybe what was said should not have been saidBut as you give, so you must takeThe easiest thing is just to walk away,” Bhogle said in the video.
Jaiswal was involved in a heated clash with Fernando, during which the Rajasthan Royals opener’s helmet made contact with the Sri Lankan pacer’s foreheadThe clash took place immediately after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 with an incoming delivery in the first session.
As the left-hander was walking back to the pavilion, Fernando gave him a send-off, prompting Jaiswal to turn around and confront the pacerThe two players were engaged in a huge verbal exchange which went viral on social media, during which Jaiswal’s helmet touched Fernando’s forehead, before Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva intervened to separate them.
Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted that Jaiswal shouldn’t have gone ‘that close’ to Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando.
“I think the bowler must have made some comment, and it was probably said in the heat of the momentObviously, I don’t think Jaiswal should have gone that close, but these things happen in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said at the post-match press conference.
Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk said it’s the duty of match referee, in this case Andy Pycroft, to look into such things“The verbals are probably an overflow of emotionI’ll leave that to the match referee to deal with,” Van Niekerk said.
