Legendary Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar has heavily criticized the Indian bowlers for bowling seven no-balls against Sri Lanka, saying they can’t be doing this as professionals. Sri Lanka registered a 16-run win over India in Pune to level the three-match T20I series 1-1. Speaking to Star Sports after the game, Gavaskar opined that the bowlers can’t afford to bowl so many no-balls in a match. Arshdeep Singh bowled five no-balls in the innings, while Umran Malik and Shivam Mavi bowled a no-ball each.
As per the quotes in India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said, “As a professional, you can’t be doing this. We often hear that today’s players say, things aren’t in our control. Not bowling a no-ball is in your control. What happens after you deliver the ball, what the batsman does, is another thing. Not bowling a no ball is definitely in your control.”
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Arshdeep’s five no-balls in a T20 inning are the most by an Indian bowler, breaking his previous record of four against South Africa, and the joint-highest by a bowler from a full member nation, with West Indies’ Keemo Paul.
Other full-time member countries that have conceded as many no-balls in an inning are Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Afghanistan. Ghana holds the record for the most no-balls bowled in an inning, with ten illegal deliveries against Uganda. India’s stand-in skipper, Hardik Pandya refused to blame Arshdeep Singh for their defeat but said that bowling a no-ball is a crime.
During the post-match presentation, Hardik Pandya said, “In bowling and batting, the powerplay hurt us. We made some basic errors, which we shouldn’t be making at this level. Everyone knows what it is, the learning for us is we should be focusing on what we can control. For Arshdeep, in this situation, it is very difficult. It is not about blaming him or being too hard on him, but we know no-balls in any format is a crime.”
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With India winning the first match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai by a slender margin of two runs, and Sri Lanka clinching the second T20I at the MCA Stadium in Pune, all eyes will be on the third and final T20I of the series to be played in Rajkot on January 7.
