Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar asked for fines to be imposed on the bowler and the bowling coach for every no-ball bowled after Team India’s series win over Sri Lanka. Despite a 1-0 series win, the Indian bowlers, including the spinners, struggled with no-ball issues. In just the second Test, they bowled 13 no-balls, with the spin duo of Saransh Jain and Ravindra Jadeja bowling 11 across the two innings as well. Jadeja, who has often struggled with front-foot no-balls throughout his stunning career, also sent down four no-balls in the first Test at Galle as well.

However, Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-Day: “The India team spinning coach jokingly said that giving a free hit after a no-ball might help in curbing the offense. Please, let’s not make run-scoring easier in Test cricket for the batters with this penalty. As it is, with the restriction on bouncers to two in an over and the boundaries being brought in, run making has
become a little simpler. Instead, how about a fine which gets doubled for every further transgression, plus half the amount of the fine for the bowling coach too.”

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“The fines collected can be used for the final team dinner before the boys disperse. There could be other fines too, for example, not backing up for a throw or something else not done on the field, which the whole team can vote on whether to
impose or not. This can also be a fun activity and bond the team even more,” he further added.

Sunil Gavaskar also believes bowling no-balls is inexcusable in the modern day, because of the facilities and equipment available. The white-ball formats have penalised bowling no-balls with free hits for years as a move to penalise the bowlers as well.

“This has to be looked at urgently because it can change the colour of the game. There are very few aspects of the game that are totally in the players’ control, and a batter taking guard and a bowler not bowling a no-ball are two such aspects. Players, when they come for interviews, talk about doing things that are in their control. Today, with tape measure available to mark the run-up, there should be no excuses for overstepping the bowling crease,” concluded Sunil Gavaskar.