Indian keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel delved into the details of the Indian opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal’s on-field heated exchange with the Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando on the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka, which India won by 1-0.
Shifting our focus to the details, the incident took place in the second Test against Sri Lanka when Jaiswal was dismissed for 45 off 53. Interestingly, Jaiswal and Fernando were involved in a heated exchange, including the former’s helmet making contact with the pacer.
Speaking in an interview on former cricketer Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, Jurel revealed that it was Fernando who initiated the sledge while Jaiswal was silently heading towards the pavilion.
“He was quietly walking towards the dressing room after getting out. If you have seen the footage, he didn’t say anything. Actually, he (Fernando) was abusing him. Bahut gandi gaaliya de raha tha (He abused him heavily),” Jurel said.
Further, Jurel clarified that the Indian players don’t back down if someone tries to get under their skin, adding that Jaiswal is not someone who starts it, but always stays in his zone while batting.
“He will never start it. I have never seen him start it. He doesn’t care about that and stays in his zone while batting. But if someone does it, I don’t think there is anyone in the Indian team who wouldn’t give it back,” he added.
Eventually, Fernando and Jaiswal have each been fined 25 per cent of their match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. 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).”
In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary records of Fernando and Jaiswal, both of whom did not have any previous offences in the preceding 24-month period.
