Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has opened up on the heated exchange between the Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka, which is currently underway in Colombo.
Speaking at the post-day press conference after Day 1, Kotak noted that such incidents can happen in the heat of the moment. However, he went on to add that Jaiswal shouldn’t have gone so close to Fernando.
“I think they must have said something to him and it might have happened in the heat of the moment. Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have been so close (to Fernando), but that happens when you are in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said in the post-day press conference.
Jaiswal was batting on 45 when Fernando dismissed him. The pacer gave Jaiswal an animated send-off and appeared to exchange words with the batter. While Jaiswal initially walked away, he later turned back towards Fernando and approached him. They came close and exchanged more words, with their heads almost touching. However, Dhananjaya de Silva stepped in and separated the duo.
Former India cricketers Ajay Jadeja and Venkatesh Prasad, who were part of the broadcasting panel on Sony Sports for the second Test match, were also disappointed with the Southpaw’s reaction after his dismissal.
India won the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs and are leading the two-match series 1-0.
India’s playing XI in 2nd Test vs SL: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
