Indian left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra has been severely reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for excessive appealing during the first One-Day International of the tri-series against Sri Lanka [Images] on Saturday.

ICC [Images] match referee Mike Procter found Nehra guilty of breaching the council's code of conduct by pre-empting a decision by the umpire in Saturday's tense game in Dambulla, otherwise known as excessive appealing, the council said.

"Nehra pleaded guilty to the charge of celebrating the dismissal before the umpire had made his decision and of not turning around and appealing to the umpire," the ICC said in a statement forwarded by Sri Lanka Cricket on Monday.

"Nehra received a severe reprimand for the incident, which took place at the end of the 45th over in the Indian bowling innings," the statement added.

Sri Lanka clinched a three-wicket victory over India during Saturday's match. Sanath Jayasuriya [Images] scored an unbeaten 43 despite a dislocated shoulder.