Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the handling of recent on-field altercations involving Indian players, calling for stronger action from cricket authorities after the Yashasvi Jaiswal-Asitha Fernando incident during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
The controversy erupted after Jaiswal was dismissed by Sri Lankan fast bowler Asitha Fernando. A heated exchange followed, during which Jaiswal's helmet collided with Fernando's forehead. The International Cricket Council (ICC) subsequently fined both players 25 per cent of their match fees and handed them one demerit point each.
Manjrekar, however, believes disciplinary measures need to send a stronger message, particularly to young players.
Manjrekar questions disciplinary approach
In a post on X, Manjrekar argued that allowing players to escape with relatively light punishment could encourage similar behaviour in the future. He linked the Jaiswal incident with another recent controversy involving young India batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
“If you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour,” Manjrekar wrote, adding that such incidents are harmful to the sport as well as the players' futures.
His comments have brought renewed attention to the balance between aggressive cricket and maintaining discipline on the field.
Jaiswal fined after Colombo incident
Jaiswal's confrontation with Fernando occurred during the second Test in Colombo. Following his dismissal, tensions escalated between the two players before the helmet-to-forehead contact took place.
The ICC's decision resulted in a 25 per cent match-fee penalty and one demerit point for each player.
Jaiswal later responded to criticism of the incident. Commentator Harsha Bhogle had discussed the episode in a video shared on Instagram, following which Jaiswal commented on the post.
The India batter said that people should not judge the situation without knowing what had been said during the exchange. He also insisted that the Indian team would respond when an opponent crossed the line.
Vaibhav controversy also highlighted
Manjrekar's latest comments also refer to an incident involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during a match against Sri Lanka A.
According to reports, an argument between Vaibhav and Sri Lankan player Vishen Halambage escalated into a physical confrontation, with Vaibhav pushing the opposition player. Reports also suggested that Halambage had been provoking the young Indian batter during the series.
Manjrekar had previously taken a firm position on Vaibhav's conduct, saying he would have dropped the youngster for the following match had he been part of the India A coaching or management staff.
Manjrekar wants players to learn
The former India batter's argument is not limited to punishment for its own sake. His concern is that young cricketers need to understand the consequences of crossing behavioural boundaries on the field.
Vaibhav had also faced criticism previously after appearing to show his shoe towards Pakistan's Ali Raza following his dismissal in the Under-19 Asia Cup final.
With several incidents involving young players and international cricketers attracting attention, Manjrekar's comments have again raised questions over how cricket's governing bodies and team managements should deal with aggressive on-field behaviour.
Debate over aggression and discipline
Competitive cricket has traditionally involved verbal exchanges and intense celebrations, but physical confrontations remain a separate matter. The Jaiswal-Fernando episode has therefore become part of a wider discussion about where the line should be drawn between competitive aggression and unacceptable conduct.
For Manjrekar, stronger intervention from the ICC, BCCI and team managements could help ensure that young players understand those limits early in their careers.
