'Yashasvi Jaiswal shouldn't have gone so close': Team India batting coach on heated on-field exchange with Asitha Fernando

Yashasvi Jaiswal (Image credit: Agencies)

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has reacted to the heated exchange between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the opening day of the second Test in Colombo. Kotak said such incidents can happen in the heat of the moment, but felt that Jaiswal should not have gone so close to the Sri Lankan bowler. Jaiswal and Fernando were involved in a tense confrontation during the first session on Sunday. The India opener was batting well on 45 when Fernando dismissed him in the 17th over. The Sri Lankan pacer gave Jaiswal an animated send-off and appeared to exchange words with the batter. Jaiswal initially walked away but then turned back towards Fernando. The two players came close to each other and exchanged more words, with their helmets almost touching. The situation appeared to be heading towards further confrontation before Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva stepped in and separated the two players. “Bowler would have commented. Heat of the moment. It happens. I don’t think Jaiswal should have gone so close,” Kotak said.

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Jaiswal was bowled for 45 from 53 balls, having hit nine fours. The left hander looked set for a bigger score but could not carry on after getting a good start. India won the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs and are leading the two-match series 1-0.

‘Verbals are probably an overflow of emotion’

Sri Lanka coach Ryan van Niekerk also spoke about the heated exchange between Jaiswal and Fernando. Van Niekerk said Test cricket against a team like India demands his bowlers to keep creating pressure and not simply sit back. “Look it is hard Test cricket, isn't it? When you're coming up against a team like India, you can't sit on the back foot and just bowl at them. I think from our side, it's bringing the challenge all the time, trying to make sure we can create something,” Ryan van Niekerk said. “And so, from my point of view, I've really asked the bowlers to stand up and create something. The verbals are probably an overflow of emotion. I'll leave that to the match referee to deal with,” he added.

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