Not acceptable: Sunil Gavaskar furious after Ravindra Jadeja’s no-ball costs Marnus Labuschagne wicket in Indore
India vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja’s 8th no-ball in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 was a costly one as it handed Marnus Labuschagne an extra life on Day 1 of the 3rd Test in Indore.
Not acceptable: Gavaskar furious after Jadeja’s costly no-ball in Indore Test (AP Photo)
By India Today Sports Desk: Ravindra Jadeja bowled his 8th no-ball of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Day 1 of the 3rd Test against Australia and it handed World No. 1 batter Marnus Labuschagne an extra life when he was batting on 0 in the second session in Indore.
Marnus Labuschagne played it onto the stumps as wickets were tumbling with alarming regularity as early as Day 1 on a pitch that turned square at the Holkar Stadium. India began celebrating as they had taken the big wicket of Travis Head early in the session but there was a disappointment as the TV cameras zoned in on the outstretched hand of umpire Joel Wilson.
As soon as it was called a no-ball and Labuschagne returned to the middle, Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary duty for the official broadcasters, came out with a strongly-worded response, slamming Ravindra Jadeja. The batting great, who has always been vocal against spinners over-stepping, urged Jadeja to work with bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fix the issue of bowling no-balls.
“This is not acceptable. He has a couple of man-of-the-match awards but a spinner bowling no ball… I think Paras Mhambrey has to sit down with him and make him bowl from behind. This could cost India,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
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Jadeja bowled a no-ball in his first over of his spell in Indore as captain Rohit Sharma began with spin from both ends, throwing the red cherry to the left-arm spinner and his spin twin R Ashwin. And when he overstepped for the 2nd time, it handed Labuschagne a reprieve.
Labuschagne played a poor shot, trying to cut a length ball outside off and paid the price by dragging it on to the stumps. However, he carried on and looked more solid as he went past the 10-run mark, stitching a solid partnership for the 2nd wicket with Usman Khawaja.
Notably, Jadeja castled Steve Smith in the second innings of the first Test in Nagpur but it was off a no-ball. The error deprived Jadeja of his 250th Test wicket in Nagpur but the left-arm spinner managed to reach the landmark in the second Test in Delhi.
Jadeja leads the wicket-takers list in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 with 18 wickets so far.
Earlier in the day, India were bundled out for 109, their 4th lowest total against Australia in Tests at home. Virat Kohli top-scored with 22 while left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann picked his maiden 5-wicket haul.
