Mumbai | 30 Aug 2026
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has proposed financial penalties for bowlers who repeatedly overstep in Test cricket, with fines increasing for each subsequent no-ball. His suggestion follows India’s persistent no-ball problem during their 1-0 Test series victory in Sri Lanka, in which Ravindra Jadeja was among the principal offenders.
Sunil Gavaskar Proposes Escalating No-Ball Fines
Writing in his Mid-Day column published on August 30, Gavaskar argued that front-foot no-balls were largely within a bowler’s control and should therefore carry consequences when repeated.
“There should be no excuses for overstepping the bowling crease.”
— Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain
Gavaskar suggested an internal fine for the first offence, with the amount doubling for every subsequent transgression. He also proposed that the bowling coach should be fined an amount equivalent to half the player’s penalty.
He suggested that money collected through such fines could be used for the team’s final dinner on an overseas tour, turning the disciplinary measure into a team activity rather than an official cricketing sanction.
Ravindra Jadeja’s No-Balls Put Issue Under Spotlight
The debate intensified during India’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. Jadeja bowled eight no-balls in the series, while debutant off-spinner Saransh Jain delivered six and Manav Suthar one, taking the Indian spin attack’s series total to 15.
India conceded 20 no-balls across the two Tests. In the second Test in Colombo alone, Indian bowlers delivered 13 no-balls, including 12 from the spinners.
Jadeja’s overstepping had already proved costly in the opening Test at Galle. A delivery that induced an edge from Dhananjaya de Silva was ruled a no-ball, cancelling what would otherwise have been a wicket.
The experienced left-arm spinner’s front-foot discipline has become a recurring issue. Cricket statistics cited during the Sri Lanka series showed that Jadeja has bowled substantially more no-balls since television umpires began routinely monitoring the front foot in Tests.
Gavaskar Rejects Free-Hit Proposal for Test Cricket
India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule had earlier floated the idea of introducing a free hit after a no-ball in Test cricket while discussing the team’s overstepping problem. He acknowledged that India were working to correct the errors and said the repeated no-balls were a concern.
Gavaskar opposed introducing the white-ball free-hit rule into Tests, arguing that the longest format should not make run-scoring easier for batters. Instead, he favoured financial accountability within the team.
“How about a fine which gets doubled for every further transgression?”
— Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain
His proposal is not an announced International Cricket Council or Board of Control for Cricket in India rule change. It is Gavaskar’s suggested team-level mechanism for improving bowling discipline.
India Win Series but Colombo Draw Hurts WTC Push
India won the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0 after taking the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs. Sri Lanka then produced a determined resistance in Colombo to draw the second Test.
Sonal Dinusha played the decisive role in denying India a clean sweep, scoring an unbeaten 133 in Sri Lanka’s second innings as the hosts finished on 429 for nine after being asked to follow on.
The draw prevented India from securing the additional World Test Championship points available for a victory and left them facing a demanding route towards the WTC final. India’s remaining Tests in the cycle include an away series in New Zealand and a five-match home series against Australia.
