India's no-ball epidemic: Jadeja among worst offenders since TV umpires took charge
India's no-ball epidemic deepens as spinners top the erring charts
On a day when Sri Lanka dragged the Second Test in Colombo into a gripping final day, India's spin attack recorded an all-too-familiar blemish: five no-balls took their match tally to 10, the third-most ever conceded by a spin attack in a Test. None of them cost a wicket here, but the numbers have begun to warrant serious introspection.
The frustration spilled into an unusual proposal from India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who suggested introducing free-hits for no-balls in Tests as a deterrence. “I guess, if free-hit comes in, it will reduce the percentage,” he offered. “If you bowl a no ball, there will be a consequence. I am no guardian of the rules but if it [free-hit] comes, obviously, they [no-balls] will definitely reduce.”
A systemic problem, not an isolated one
The offense is hardly confined to this fixture. A week earlier in Galle, Ravindra Jadeja’s second-inning no-ball was painfully costly as he lured Dhananjaya de Silva into nicking to KL Rahul at slip, only for the loud siren to spare the Sri Lankan captain. Since TV umpires were confirmed to call no-balls from the England-Pakistan series of late 2020, only Kagiso Rabada, Ben Stokes and Jasprit Bumrah have bowled more no-balls than Jadeja.
The gulf within spin bowling is stark: Jadeja’s oversteps are 49 more than Pakistan's Noman Ali, the next spinner on the list. Of 16 bowlers with more than 40 no-balls in that window, Jadeja is the only spinner.
| Bowler | Innings | No-balls | Legal Balls per No-ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | 56 | 148 | 37 |
| Ben Stokes | 72 | 113 | 45 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 71 | 106 | 66 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 77 | 89 | 88 |
| Ollie Robinson | 41 | 79 | 52 |
| Kemar Roach | 59 | 68 | 74 |
| Pat Cummins | 80 | 56 | 141 |
| Naseem Shah | 27 | 49 | 57 |
| Alzarri Joseph | 58 | 48 | 108 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 38 | 47 | 42 |
The most revealing number? Jadeja bowled just 18 no-balls from his debut in 2012 to the point TV adjudication was sanctioned. Since then, he has overstepped 89 times.
A work-in-progress, not an excuse
India’s current attack mixes Jadeja — the leader — with a debutant and a spinner in only his third outing, and they have combined to bowl 15 no-balls this series against Sri Lanka’s five. Bahutule concedes the issue is being addressed. “To be honest, definitely, it is something which we have been working on. It is not that we are ignoring it,” he said. “It is definitely a concern at times, but generally when the bowler is putting in that effort, trying to see how he can create that opportunity and get the wicket in, in situations where wickets are not coming through, he has a tendency to push himself. But that is not an excuse.”
He insisted the nets mirror matches when it comes to the crease. “Reminders are given during nets also. It is similar to a match situation. We take every session as seriously, and it is monitored from the side view. Sometimes I stay or the other coaches stand as umpires. We are monitoring spinners and fast bowlers [for no-balls]. It is an important area,” he added.
Bahutule, with India for less than three months, is clear on the path forward: “The take-off point is talked about. They understand what is happening. And definitely, a process will be put forward in terms of minimising them.” For now, the baseline demand may be simpler than any rule change: don’t overstep.