Both Jaiswal and Rahul were left stranded at the non-striker’s end.
Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra dissected the controversial run-out of Yashasvi Jaiswal on Day 1 of India's first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium.
Jaiswal was looking comfortable on 32 runs when opening partner KL Rahul pushed a delivery from debutant bowler Keshara Nuwantha and called for a quick single.
As Jaiswal responded, Nuwantha moved across in his follow-through and accidentally knocked the southpaw off balance, leaving him flat on the pitch. Rahul sprinted all the way to the non-striker's end and grounded his bat first. This effectively left Jaiswal stranded and forced him to walk back to the pavilion.
Chopra strongly asserted the blame lies with Rahul due to a complete breakdown in visual communication, noting that Jaiswal could not have safely crossed to the striker's end even with maximum effort after being knocked down by the bowler.
"This was Yashasvi's 30th Test, and he has played at 30 different venues. He scored 32 in this match and got run out. I thought it was KL Rahul's fault because Yashasvi had fallen after the bowler's leg hit him. He wouldn't have reached the other end even if he had gotten up and run," Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
"Rahul had already committed. He was watching the ball and wasn't looking at his partner at all, as to what had happened with him, and eventually, an unfortunate run-out. A run-out in a Test match is a bad way to get out. It was a communication breakdown. Life is not that fair sometimes," he added.
After Jaiswal’s dismissal, Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal stitched together a 150-run partnership to put India in a commanding position.
While Rahul was retired hurt on 77 due to severe cramps, Padikkal went on to slam his maiden Test century (131*), propelling the visitors to 288/2 at stumps.
In the same, Aakash Chopra commended Rahul for playing a responsible knock and also backed him to bring up the three-figure mark on Day 2.
"KL Rahul stood there. He is versatile. When he wishes, he has such incredible control over his game and senses. When a Test match comes, he scores a hundred while playing cautiously, whether it is Afghanistan or here," Chopra stated.
"He takes his time. He allows the ball to come to him. Although that knock was cut short due to cramps, he can return. He is retired hurt and not retired out. So he can walk in to bat anytime he is comfortable. He will hopefully score a century as well," he remarked.