India spin coach suggests Test cricket free hits to curb no-ball problem

India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has offered a lighthearted suggestion to address the persistent issue of no-balls in Test cricket, proposing the introduction of the free-hit rule to the format. The comments followed a challenging outing for the Indian spin attack, which conceded 10 no-balls during the ongoing second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

While acknowledging he is not an authority on the laws of the game, Bahutule noted that implementing a penalty similar to the limited-overs format would likely force bowlers to be more disciplined. He emphasized that no team wants to concede extra runs or provide an additional delivery to the opposition, suggesting that such a rule change would naturally incentivize bowlers to monitor their take-off points more closely.

According to the coach, the issue often arises when bowlers are pushing for a breakthrough on surfaces where wickets are difficult to come by. In their eagerness to extract more from the pitch, bowlers occasionally exert extra effort, which can lead to a lapse in their landing position. Bahutule clarified that while this provides context for the errors, it does not serve as an excuse for the lack of discipline.

Bahutule expressed confidence that the players are aware of the problem and are committed to the process of minimizing these errors. As the team continues its preparations, the focus remains on internal adjustments to ensure that the bowlers can maintain their intensity without crossing the line, effectively reducing the number of extra deliveries conceded in future play.