Yashasvi Jaiswal’s promising start in the second Test against Sri Lanka ended in a heated exchange with Asitha Fernando after the India opener was dismissed for 45 in Colombo. The incident took place in the 17th over of India’s first innings during the morning session on Day 1.
Jaiswal had looked fluent during his 53-ball stay, striking nine boundaries and repeatedly putting pressure on Sri Lanka’s bowlers whenever they strayed in line or length. Fernando, who had already been hit for three boundaries in the over, eventually found the response he was looking for with the final delivery.
IND vs SL, 2nd Test Day 1: UPDATES
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Coming around the wicket, Fernando bowled a good-length delivery that curved back into Jaiswal. The left-hander looked to punch it through the off side but got a big inside edge, with the ball ricocheting onto the stumps to end his innings.
Fernando was pumped up after the breakthrough and gave Jaiswal a fiery send-off. As the India batter walked away, he appeared to hear something from the bowler and turned back, leading to an exchange of words between the two.
The situation quickly became heated as Jaiswal and Fernando came face-to-face, with the Indian opener appearing to make slight head contact with the Sri Lankan pacer. Sri Lankan players immediately stepped in to separate the two and defuse the confrontation.
INDIA’S ROCKY START TO COLOMBO TEST
India won the toss and opted to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club, with Saransh Jain making his Test debut. The big surprise at the toss was the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, with captain Shubman Gill revealing that the left-arm wrist-spinner had been ruled out because of an “infection”.
Jaiswal and KL Rahul began positively, with the former showing intent while also displaying better judgement outside the off stump. Rahul was initially watchful before finding his rhythm, but Lahiru Kumara eventually got his breakthrough when the India opener edged a wide delivery through to the wicketkeeper for 18.
Devdutt Padikkal joined Jaiswal and had an early nervous moment when he edged one past the slip cordon. Jaiswal, meanwhile, continued to look assured, reaching 45 from 53 balls with nine fours before Fernando finally found the delivery to dismiss him.
The dismissal left India at 66/2, with both openers back in the pavilion inside the first session. After a promising beginning, Sri Lanka had managed to claw their way back into the contest, with the Colombo surface offering enough assistance to keep the Indian batters under pressure.
– Ends
