‘No-balls in any format is a crime’ – Hardik Pandya’s take on Arshdeep Singh’s many no-balls in 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka won the second T20I against India in Pune to level the three-match series 1-1. One of the major factors behind the visitor’s win was the number of no-balls bowled by the Indians in the first innings. Arshdeep Singh, India’s emerging pacer, was at fault for bowling as many as five no-balls in the game.

Speaking about the same in the post-match presentation, stand-in captain Hardik Pandya said that bowling no balls in any format is a crime, adding that he was not blaming Arshdeep but that the pacer needed to go back to the basics and rectify this error.

You can have a good day, you can have a bad day, but you shouldn’t be moving away from the basics. For Arshdeep, in this situation, it is very difficult. In past as well he’s bowled no-balls. It is not about blaming him or to be too hard on him, but we know bowling no-balls in any format is a crime,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation.

Pandya felt India were underperforming in powerplays, both bowling and batting.”Both in bowling and batting, the powerplay hurt us. We made some basic errors, which we shouldn’t be making at this level. Everyone knows what it is. The learning for us is we should be focussing on what we can control,” he said.

Pandya commented on debutant Rahul Tripathi being sent to bat at number three: “Rahul is accustomed to playing at no. 3, and someone coming in, we want to give them a role they are comfortable with. That’s why he batted at No. 3.”

IND vs SL: 2nd T20I

As for the game, Sri Lanka set a massive target of 207 runs for India to chase down. Thanks to brilliant efforts from Kusal Mendis (52), Pathum Nissanka (33), Charith Asalanka (37), and Dasun Shanaka (56), the Lankas were able to set this huge target.

On the other hand, India had a terrible start as they lost five wickets for a score of just 57 runs. However, Suryakumar Yadav (51) and Axar Patel (65) put on a brilliant 91-run partnership to get India close to the target. In the end, it was Sri Lanka that held its nerves to win the match.