‘Please, let’s not’: Gavaskar rejects free-hit idea in Test cricket

Sunil Gavaskar has dismissed the notion of introducing free hits in Test cricket as a solution to the growing issue of bowlers committing no-balls. The former India captain believes that batters should not be handed an advantage when faced with the responsibility of maintaining control over their actions. Gavaskar's column for Mid-Day emphasized that there are few aspects of cricket that are entirely within a player's control, and a bowler failing to bowl a no-ball is one of them.

He argued that the issue must be addressed urgently due to the significant impact repeated no-balls can have on a Test match. Gavaskar expressed his opposition to the idea of giving batters a free hit after a no-ball, stating that it would further simplify scoring in an already easier format of the game. Instead, he proposed a more pragmatic solution: implementing financial penalties for bowlers who overstep the crease, with fines increasing for each subsequent offense.

Gavaskar also suggested that the bowling coach should share responsibility for these penalties. Additionally, he proposed involving the team in deciding when certain on-field mistakes should result in penalties, turning fines into an interactive and bonding experience for the group. Gavaskar's concerns extend beyond the specific result of the recent Test match in Colombo, where India fell short against Sri Lanka, and he believes that avoidable no-balls should be addressed head-on.