'Yashasvi Jaiswal shouldn't have gone so close': Team India batting coach on heated on-field exchange with Asitha Fernando

India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has spoken out on the heated exchange between young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka's pacer Asitha Fernando during the opening Test in Colombo. Kotak believes that while such incidents are inevitable in the pressure-cooker environment of Test cricket, Jaiswal should have maintained a greater distance from the Sri Lankan bowler.

The on-field altercation took place during the first session on Sunday, with Jaiswal at the crease at 45 runs off 53 balls, having smashed nine fours. Fernando dismissed Jaiswal in the 17th over, issuing an animated send-off to the Indian batter. The two players exchanged words and came dangerously close to each other, with helmets almost touching - a scene that seemed poised for further confrontation before Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened to separate them.

Kotak stated that bowlers would inevitably make verbal comments, but stressed that Jaiswal's proximity to Fernando was not suitable. Sri Lanka's coach Ryan van Niekerk also weighed in on the incident, emphasizing that Test cricket against India requires bowlers to constantly create pressure, rather than merely defending. He acknowledged that the heated exchange was likely an overflow of emotion and left it to the match referee to handle.