There is no question that Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the most exciting young batting talents in Indian cricket. Which is precisely why his behaviour after being dismissed in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo should be a matter of concern—not something to be dismissed as “passion” or “aggression”.
Jaiswal had battled his way to a promising 45 before Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando finally breached his defence. Fernando celebrated animatedly, as bowlers routinely do after taking an important wicket. Jaiswal initially walked away, but then turned back, leading to a heated exchange between the two. The confrontation came dangerously close to physical contact before the Sri Lankan captain intervened.
I can understand Jaiswal’s frustration. He had once again missed an opportunity to convert a start into a substantial innings. But frustration cannot become an excuse for losing one’s composure. A batsman getting out is part of cricket. A bowler celebrating a wicket—even with a send-off—is also part of the game. The greats have been sledged, provoked and taunted for decades. The difference was that most of them understood when to walk away.
As a former cricketer, I have seen enough India-Australia, India-Pakistan and India-England encounters to know that sledging is hardly a new phenomenon. Tempers have occasionally boiled over, but physical confrontations were rare. I still remember how Kapil Dev, on one occasion, had to cool down an aggressive Kris Srikkanth during an India-Pakistan contest. The message from the seniors was simple: play hard, but do not lose control.
What worries me more in Jaiswal’s case is that this is not entirely new territory. During the 2022 Duleep Trophy final, a young Jaiswal was repeatedly warned by umpires for aggressive sledging of South Zone batter T. Ravi Teja. West Zone captain Ajinkya Rahane eventually sent him off the field after the verbal confrontation continued.
In fact, the episode could have had far more serious consequences. Rahane has subsequently revealed that the match referee was prepared to impose a four-match ban on Jaiswal. Rahane intervened, and the proposed punishment was withdrawn. Jaiswal went on to score a magnificent 265 in that very final and was named Player of the Match. Rahane’s intervention may well have saved a young player’s career from an unnecessary early setback.
That history makes Sunday’s incident even more disappointing.
Jaiswal is no longer an inexperienced domestic youngster. He is an established India opener. With that status comes responsibility. Opposition teams know that his attacking batting is one of his greatest weapons—and therefore his temperament will also be tested. The more successful he becomes, the more frequently bowlers will try to provoke him.
He must learn to treat that as part of the contest.
There are plenty of reminders of how quickly indiscipline can become a distraction. Even Virat Kohli, one of India’s fiercest competitors, has been punished for crossing the line. The ICC fined him and awarded a demerit point for excessive appealing in the 2019 World Cup, while later that year he was reprimanded and given another demerit point for inappropriate physical contact with South African bowler Beuran Hendricks. Under the ICC system, accumulating four or more demerit points within 24 months can result in suspension points and a ban.
The lesson is not that aggressive cricketers are bad cricketers. Far from it. Aggression can be an enormous asset. But controlled aggression wins matches; uncontrolled aggression creates unnecessary problems.
That is why the Indian team management must counsel Jaiswal—not publicly humiliate him, but privately and firmly remind him of the responsibilities that come with wearing the India cap. He has enormous talent, hunger and the ability to become one of India’s finest opening batters.
It would be a tragedy if something as avoidable as a moment of temper began overshadowing that talent.
Cricket will forgive a batsman for getting out at 45. It will not always forgive a player for repeatedly failing to control himself.
Jaiswal needs to learn that distinction quickly. His career is far too valuable to allow anger to become his most visible weakness.
