Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has raised concerns over the on-field conduct of young Indian cricketers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Manjrekar believes stronger action may be needed after the two players were involved in separate incidents during matches against Sri Lankan opposition.
Sooryavanshi attracted attention during the tri-series in June after an on-field confrontation with a Sri Lanka A player. More recently, Jaiswal was involved in a heated exchange with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Jaiswal was subsequently fined 25 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his conduct during the incident. However, the Indian opener avoided a suspension.
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Manjrekar, who has worked as a cricket expert and commentator since retiring from international cricket, took to X on Wednesday to express his concerns. He urged both the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take the incidents seriously, warning that leniency could encourage similar behaviour in the future.
🥵 THINGS GET HEATED! 🥵
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando exchange words as tensions rise in the middle. 👀
Watch #SLvIND, 2nd Test, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #BeautifulGameOfTestCricket pic.twitter.com/7qJrORjx8V
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 23, 2026
#BREAKING
Big Fight between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Srilankan player in India A vs Srilanka A match.#Vaibhavsooryavanshi pic.twitter.com/phAdYnLwLz— NEWS WALA (@NEWSWALApy) June 15, 2026
“Dear @icc & @bcci… Vaibhav for Ind A recently & now Jaiswal… if you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour. It’s not good for the sport & crucially their own future too,” Manjrekar wrote.
Dear @icc & @bcci…
Vaibhav for Ind A recently & now Jaiswal… if you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour. It’s not good for the sport & crucially their own future too. 🙏— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 26, 2026
The former India batter’s comments came after another heated episode involving Jaiswal and Fernando on the opening day of the Colombo Test. Fernando celebrated aggressively after dismissing Jaiswal, which appeared to provoke a reaction from the Indian batter.
Jaiswal turned back and walked towards the Sri Lankan pacer before the situation escalated. The two players exchanged words and were eventually separated by their teammates.
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Fernando was also punished by the ICC for his role in the confrontation. Both players were fined 25 per cent of their respective match fees and received one demerit point.
While competitive intensity is an integral part of Test cricket, Manjrekar believes young players must learn to control their emotions and understand the potential consequences of repeated disciplinary incidents, particularly as they establish themselves at the international level.
