TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Tempers were flying high moments after Asitha Fernando dismissed

Yashasvi Jaiswal off the last delivery of the 17th over. It was already an eventful over with three boundaries, concluding dramatically when the bowler had the last laugh as Jaiswal inside-edged the delivery back onto his stumps. Disappointed, the left-hander started walking back to the dressing room when something during the animated send-off triggered him, and he instantly returned.

The 24-year-old charged toward the bowler, making visible contact with Fernando's head. The Sri Lankan players stepped in, separated the two and prevented the situation from escalating. India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak felt Jaiswal shouldn't have gone so close and termed the incident as something that happened in the "heat of the moment".

"I think the bowler commented something and it happened in the heat of moment. Obviously Yashasvi shouldnât have gone so close to him but it happened in the heat of the moment," said Kotak.

Sri Lanka bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk also downplayed the incident, leaving it to the match referee to deal with.

"Look it is hard Test cricket, isn't it? When you're coming up against a team like India, you can't sit on the back foot and just bowl at them.

I think from our side, it's bringing the challenge all the time, trying to make sure we can create something," said Ryan van Niekerk.

"And so, from my point of view, I've really asked the bowlers to stand up and create something. The verbals are probably an overflow of emotion. I'll leave that to the match referee to deal with," he added.

It now remains to be seen how ICC match referee Andy Pycroft views the incident. Clear video evidence of the physical contact exists and could invite sanctions ranging from a reprimand to a 50% match fee and demerit points. Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct deals with "inappropriate physical contact".

What does Article 2.12 say?

"Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.

Note: Any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, Players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another Player or Umpire.

When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the following factors (without limitation) shall be taken into account: (i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the contact was deliberate (i.e. intentional), reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) the force of the contact; (iii) any resulting injury to the person with whom contact was made; and (iv) the person with whom contact was made."