Dodda Ganesh Supports Sanjay Manjrekar’s Call for Stricter Penalties on Physical Altercations in Cricket

Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh has voiced strong support for Sanjay Manjrekar’s appeal to cricket governing bodies regarding disciplinary actions for physical confrontations in the sport. Manjrekar urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to implement stronger measures, arguing that lenient penalties fail to discourage repeat behaviour.

What Happened

The discussion arose after commentator and former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar posted a message on X addressed directly to the ICC and the BCCI. Manjrekar expressed concern that failing to impose match bans for physical clashes risks training players to repeat such conduct. In his remarks, Manjrekar pointed to two specific episodes: one involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in an India-A match and another involving Yashasvi Jaiswal during the Colombo Test match.

Dodda Ganesh backed Manjrekar’s stance through a quote-tweet, defending him against online trolling. Ganesh highlighted two instances of what he termed lenient penalties, referencing Paras Dogra receiving only a fine after head-butting Karnataka’s K Aneesh in the Ranji Trophy finals, alongside Jaiswal receiving a fine in Colombo. Ganesh cautioned that such precedent could eventually escalate to fistfights on the field.

The incident involving Jaiswal occurred on Day 1 of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 24, 2026. Following Jaiswal’s dismissal by Asitha Fernando in the 17th over, the two players exchanged words. Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal, and Jaiswal leant in, leading to contact between their heads.

Match Referee Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel proposed penalties after charges were filed by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Rod Tucker, and fourth umpire Prageeth Rambukwella. Both Jaiswal and Fernando admitted to breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which penalises inappropriate physical contact. Each player accepted a fine of 25 percent of their match fee—costing Jaiswal roughly Rs 3.75 lakh—and received one demerit point. It was the first recorded infraction for both cricketers in a 24-month rolling period.

Before the start of Day 2 in Colombo, Jaiswal commented on the confrontation beneath an Instagram post featuring Harsha Bhogle, stating that onlookers should not judge without knowing what Fernando said, adding that the team would fight back if boundaries were crossed.

Key Highlights

• Dodda Ganesh endorsed Sanjay Manjrekar’s appeal to the ICC and BCCI demanding stricter penalties for physical altercations.
• Manjrekar argued that allowing players to escape without match bans encourages the repetition of improper conduct.
• Ganesh cited the Ranji Trophy incident involving Paras Dogra and the Colombo Test clash involving Yashasvi Jaiswal as examples of insufficient sanctions.
• Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando were fined 25 percent of their match fees and received one demerit point under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
• Jaiswal defended his actions on social media, asserting that players will respond if opponents cross the line.

Why This Matters

The statements from Ganesh and Manjrekar highlight growing concerns among former players regarding player discipline and the deterrence value of existing cricket regulations. By questioning whether financial penalties and demerit points sufficiently prevent physical confrontations, their remarks direct attention to the standards enforced by match officials and governing bodies across domestic and international fixtures.

What to Watch Next

With former players publicly pressing the ICC and BCCI for tougher disciplinary measures, discussions surrounding the adequacy of fines versus match bans are expected to persist as the Test series progresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Sanjay Manjrekar ask the ICC and BCCI to do?

Manjrekar addressed the ICC and BCCI on social media, warning that letting players avoid bans for physical altercations conditions them to repeat the behaviour, calling for stricter punishments.

Why was Yashasvi Jaiswal fined during the Colombo Test?

Jaiswal was fined 25 percent of his match fee and handed one demerit point after his head made contact with Sri Lankan bowler Asitha Fernando following an exchange of words on Day 1 of the Colombo Test.

Which rule did Jaiswal and Fernando breach?

Both players breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to inappropriate physical contact with players, umpires, or other match personnel.

What other incident did Dodda Ganesh cite?

Dodda Ganesh referenced an episode from the Ranji Trophy finals where Paras Dogra reportedly received only a fine after head-butting Karnataka player K Aneesh.

Source: CricTracker