Gavaskar Opposes Free Hit Proposal in Test Cricket Amid No-Ball Concerns

Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his opposition to the idea of implementing free hits in Test cricket as a solution to the increasing number of no-balls. His comments follow India's recent match against Sri Lanka, where the team failed to secure a win despite being close to victory.

During the second Test in Colombo, India needed just four wickets to clinch a series sweep, but Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha managed to score an unbeaten century, resulting in a draw. Concerns have been raised regarding the number of no-balls bowled by Indian spinners, particularly by Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Saransh Jain.

Gavaskar argues that introducing free hits would unfairly benefit batters and believes that the focus should be on addressing the no-ball issue directly. He suggests that financial penalties for bowlers who overstep the crease could serve as a more effective deterrent, advocating for fines that increase with repeated offenses. He also proposes that the team should have a say in imposing penalties for various on-field mistakes.