IND vs SL 1st Test: Jaiswal Run Out In Bizarre Mix-Up With Rahul After Bowler Collision

Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 32 in one of the strangest run-outs during the opening day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday. Jaiswal’s promising innings ended after a bizarre mix-up with KL Rahul, with the Indian opener falling to the ground after colliding with Sri Lankan bowler Keshara Nuwantha while attempting to complete a run.

The incident occurred on the final delivery of the 11th over. Rahul drove a flighted delivery from Nuwantha towards mid-on and called for a single, prompting Jaiswal to run from the non-striker’s end. Nuwantha attempted to stop the ball and dived to his right, colliding with Jaiswal in the process. The Indian batter lost his footing and fell on the pitch, while Rahul had already moved some distance towards the opposite crease.

After getting back to his feet, Jaiswal initially appeared uncertain about whether to continue the run. Rahul also hesitated after seeing the ball being quickly collected by the fielder at mid-on. Jaiswal then signalled that he wanted to complete the run, prompting Rahul to reverse direction and head back towards the bowler’s end. Jaiswal subsequently changed his decision again and attempted to return, leaving both batters at the same end.

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Rahul managed to make his ground first, while Jaiswal was left short of his crease. The fielder sent the ball to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, who initially did not remove the bails. He then looked towards Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva at slip, who appeared to indicate that the run-out could be completed. Dickwella subsequently removed the bails, and the umpires checked whether Sri Lanka had made a valid appeal before confirming Jaiswal’s dismissal.

Jaiswal finished with 32 runs from 37 balls, including five fours, bringing his innings to an unusual end. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking during commentary, was surprised by the sequence and felt that the batters had a run available. He suggested that Rahul would have comfortably reached his crease but said Jaiswal appeared to lose his sense of direction during the confusion.

India had won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Test at Galle. The match marks India’s return to the venue after several years and comes during their first red-ball tour of Sri Lanka in almost a decade. Jaiswal’s dismissal was one of the early talking points of the match, with the unusual combination of the bowler’s collision, the batters’ indecision and the delayed run-out appeal making it a particularly memorable dismissal.

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