Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has called for stronger disciplinary action against young Indian players Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following their recent on-field confrontations with Sri Lankan players. Manjrekar said allowing such behaviour to go unchecked could send the wrong message to emerging cricketers and potentially affect their careers. His comments came after Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando were penalised for their altercation during the second Test in Colombo.

The International Cricket Council fined both Jaiswal and Fernando 25 per cent of their match fees and awarded them one demerit point after they admitted breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The incident occurred after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 on the opening day. Fernando appeared to give the Indian batter a send-off, after which Jaiswal turned back and confronted him. The players came face-to-face, with Jaiswal's helmet making contact with Fernando's forehead before teammates intervened.

Manjrekar argued that the latest incident should also be viewed in the context of an earlier confrontation involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young batter had been involved in a heated exchange with Sri Lanka A players after India A lost a Super Over during a tri-series match in Dambulla in June. Physical contact was reported during that incident, with Sooryavanshi appearing to shove Sri Lanka A player Vishen Halambage. Manjrekar questioned whether sufficient consequences had followed that episode.

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Manjrekar said repeated leniency could encourage players to cross disciplinary boundaries. He urged the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India to ensure that talented youngsters understand the importance of maintaining proper conduct on the field. His argument was not against competitiveness but focused on ensuring that aggression does not turn into behaviour that could harm players' reputations or careers.

Jaiswal has defended his actions by saying that outsiders should not judge the incident without knowing what had been said during the exchange. He suggested that players should respond when opponents cross a line. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also acknowledged that something may have been said to Jaiswal but felt the batter should not have moved so close to Fernando. Commentator Harsha Bhogle similarly suggested that Jaiswal could have walked away despite potentially being provoked.

The debate has therefore centred on where competitive intensity should end and unacceptable conduct should begin. Manjrekar believes disciplinary consistency is important, particularly when young players are involved, because repeated incidents without meaningful consequences could influence their future behaviour. With Jaiswal already punished by the ICC and the earlier Sooryavanshi episode still being discussed, the comments have renewed attention on how cricket authorities handle on-field confrontations involving emerging Indian players.

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