Now Reading: Ravindra Jadeja’s 88 no-balls since 2021 biggest among spinners
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Ravindra Jadeja’s 88 no-balls since 2021 biggest among spinners
India spinner Ravindra Jadeja has bowled 88 no-balls in Test cricket since 2021, the highest among all spinners in that period, according to data from both NDTV Sports and Times of India. Pakistan's Noman Ali is a distant second with 40 no-balls, followed by Sri Lanka's Lasith Embuldeniya on 33 and England's Jack Leach on 19.
Jadeja's problem has worsened since television umpires began calling no-balls in late 2020. From his 2012 debut until that change, he bowled only 18 no-balls, since then, he has overstepped 89 times. Only fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Ben Stokes and Jasprit Bumrah have more no-balls than Jadeja in this period.
In the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka, Jadeja bowled four no-balls across both innings. In the first Test, one no-ball cost India a wicket when Dhananjaya de Silva was reprieved after edging to slip. India's spinners have collectively bowled 10 no-balls in the Colombo Test.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both NDTV Sports and Times of India frame Jadeja's no-ball count as a stark problem, but neither outlet attributes blame or cites official or opposition criticism. The coverage is uniform straight reporting, relying on the same numbers and the same turning point: the introduction of TV umpire no-ball calls in 2020. The implication is that the change in adjudication, not a change in Jadeja's action, has exposed the issue. What matters now is whether India's team management or Jadeja himself will publicly acknowledge the trend and adjust before the next Test series.
Jadeja has bowled 88 no-balls since 2021, the highest among Test spinners. TV umpires took over no-ball calls in late 2020, and his rate jumped sharply. India's next Test assignment is in October 2025.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (2): sports.ndtv.com (sensationalist), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
