Dissecting Ravindra Jadeja's chronic no-ball problem

Ravindra Jadeja has a no‑ball problem, and it has become chronic. India’s dependable bowling allrounder had Dhananjaya de Silva caught at first slip off the last ball of the 16th over on day four of the ongoing Galle Test. But before the visitors could celebrate, the piercing sound of the no‑ball siren silenced them.

Jadeja had overstepped yet again, and this time it came at a significant cost. The delivery itself was a textbook left‑arm spinner’s ball, pitching in line with the stumps, fizzing sharply, taking the outside edge of de Silva’s bat, and carrying straight to KL Rahul at first slip. It was too good for the Sri Lanka captain, and it would have removed most right‑handers.

It proved to be a major reprieve for the hosts. De Silva, then on 7 off 19, went on to finish unbeaten on 31, facing 54 more balls and holding India’s probing attack at bay alongside Sonal Dinusha, who remains unbeaten on 25 off 36.

The anatomy of Ravindra Jadeja's no-ball problem

What makes the issue more alarming is a statistic that shows Jadeja has bowled 84 no‑balls in Tests since 2021. It is the most by any spinner in that period. Pakistan’s Noman Ali is next with 40, less than half of Jadeja’s tally. Commentators often harp on air that it is unacceptable for a spinner to bowl no-balls, as they neither have a long run-up nor do they sprint with gusto from the top of their mark.

Most no-balls by a spinner in Tests since 2021

Jadeja’s landing at the point of release is unusually distinctive. His right foot travels well beyond the line during his delivery stride, then retracts mid‑air before landing with the toe first and the heel suspended. This peculiar action made life difficult for on‑field umpires back when they were responsible for calling front‑foot no‑balls. 

The ICC’s 2020 decision to shift that responsibility to the third umpire was a smart one, and unsurprisingly, Jadeja has led the no‑ball charts ever since.

It is extremely challenging for an on‑field umpire to judge whether Jadeja’s heel would land behind the popping crease or on it, especially when the heel is never the first part of his foot to come into contact with the turf. It can also be argued that since the ICC has not introduced the free-hit in the red-ball format, bowlers feel they can get away without copping severe repercussions.

While there is no quick fix, the allrounder needs to mind the popping crease during training sessions and work in tandem with India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule to iron out the flaw.

Tuesday evening’s incident was not the first time Jadeja has let a big wicket slip away. He famously dismissed Steve Smith and Marcus Labuschagne off no‑balls during the 2023 Border‑Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur and Indore respectively. 

Former India captain Rohit Sharma even poked fun at Jadeja during the Rajkot Test against England earlier this year.

After Jadeja bowled two no‑balls to Joe Root in an over, Rohit quipped, “Yaar, ye Jadeja IPL mein to itne no‑balls nahi dalta. T20 samajh ke bowling kar, Jaddu.” (Man, Jadeja doesn’t bowl this many no‑balls in the IPL. Think it’s a T20 game and bowl, Jaddu.)

The infamous no-ball that cost India ICC silverware

There is a reason Jadeja’s no‑balls have become such a talking point. India have suffered from a notorious no‑ball incident before, one that still stings like a fresh wound and cost them ICC silverware. In the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval, India had dismissed Fakhar Zaman for three, only for Jasprit Bumrah to be called for overstepping. Zaman went on to score a match‑winning century, Bumrah finished with none for 68 in nine overs, and India were thrashed by 180 runs.

Indian fans will hope Shubman Gill and his team remove de Silva early on day five and close out the Test, ensuring the Sri Lanka captain doesn’t leave them with another wound to lick for years.