3 min readUpdated: Aug 24, 2026 03:12 PM IST
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando have been fined 25 percent of their match fee and handed a demerit point each by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their heated confrontation on Day 1 of the second Test between the two sides. Jaiswal was given a send-off by Fernando, to which the latter reacted by walking up to the fast bowler and bumping heads with him.
“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).” As a result, Jaiswal and Fernando were fined 25 per cent of their match fee and were handed one demerit point each,” said the ICC in its statement. It went on to state that both players didn’t have any previous offences in the preceding 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the moments after Fernando ended Jaiswal’s promising stay at the crease on Day 1. The Indian opener had struck three boundaries in the over before Fernando produced a delivery that beat his defence and clattered into his stumps, sending him back to the pavilion.
As Jaiswal began walking back, he turned around and approached Fernando. His helmet touched Fernando’s forehead before players from both sides quickly intervened to prevent the confrontation from escalating.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted after the day’s play that Jaiswal probably shouldn’t have got as close as he did to Fernando. “I think maybe one of the bowlers may have commented something, and it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have gone so close, but that happens in the heat of the moment,” said Kotak at the end of the day’s play.
Jaiswal, however, has taken a combative stance on social media, alleging that Fernando had crossed a line. “If you don’t know what he said then please don’t make your judgement if anyone cross the line we need to let them know this India will fight and reply (sic.),” said Jaiswal on Instagram in reply to a video by Cricbuzz in which cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle spoke about the incident. While the video went up on Sunday at the end of Day 1, Jaiswal’s reply came early on Monday before the start of play on Day 2.
