Being just 15 does not put a player above the rules of conduct, and that is a lesson India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi may now have to learn the hard way. Moments after Monday's IND A vs SL A fixture, he was caught on camera shoving a Sri Lankan opponent during a heated exchange. It all unfolded right after India had lost the contest in a super over, an ugly end that overshadowed an otherwise thrilling game. The big question now is simple: will Suryavanshi pay a price for losing his cool?
A Former Umpire's Blunt Verdict
Speaking exclusively to TrendKia, former ICC Elite Panel umpire Anil Chaudhary made his stance clear, saying what happened simply should not have happened. According to him, no player under any circumstances can physically assault another, and there is absolutely no room for such behaviour in cricket. Chaudhary did not spare the on-field umpires either, arguing that the entire situation could have been handled far better.
Which Rule Could Apply
So far there has been no official word from the ICC. However, Chaudhary believes the incident could fall under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct. That clause deals with inappropriate physical contact during an international match with a player, support staff, an umpire, a match referee or any other person, including even a spectator. The former umpire added that the video clearly shows the players getting physical, which makes the match referee's role all the more crucial. ICC match referee Pradeep Jayaprakashan is expected to take a call on the matter soon.
Chaudhary also explained that before reaching any decision, the match referee will study the umpires' report closely to understand the full context of the episode. The review will weigh whether the contact was deliberate, careless or avoidable. On top of that, the intensity of the contact, whether the other player suffered any injury, exactly who was involved and how far the confrontation escalated will all factor into the final ruling.
How Severe Could the Action Be
In his conversation with TrendKia, Anil Chaudhary explained that Vaibhav could be fined up to 50 percent of his match fee, along with one or two demerit points. If the matter is treated as less serious, an official warning or reprimand might be enough to close it. The most important point is this: if he picks up 4 demerit points within the next 12 months, he could be looking at a match suspension.
What Actually Happened on the Field
In the super over, IND A were set a target of 17 runs, but the pair of Suryansh Shedge and Vaibhav Suryavanshi could only manage 9. Kaguthas Mathulan steered SL A to victory. It is believed that a few words were exchanged as the players walked back to the pavilion, after which Suryavanshi suddenly advanced towards the bowler. Vishen stepped in to defuse the situation, only for Suryavanshi to push him as well. In the end, senior player Niroshan Dickwella had to step in to settle things. Notably, earlier in the day there had already been a lengthy argument over the super over involving Tilak Varma, Suryavanshi and the umpire, one that forced coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar to intervene.
