HL: Three instances when no balls cost India the game

In today’s day and age, many people feel that it is a crime to bowl a no-ball in T20Is, as the repercussions could be quite heavy for the fielding side. It provides the opposition with an extra run across all the formats, and an all-important free hit in the limited-over games. The free-hit keeps the batters safe from dismissals, other than run-out, hitting the ball twice, and obstructing the field.

Many teams have suffered heartbreaks after a no-ball cost them a crucial match in major tournaments. But it is the Indian team who have been affected by it the most in the last few years. 

Here we look at three instances in which a no-ball cost India the match in recent history!

1. India vs West Indies, 20-20 World Cup semifinal, 2016

20-20 World Cup 2016 (Source - Twitter)

After Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Lendl Simmons for 18 off a no-ball in the semi-final of the 2016 20-20 World Cup, one would have expected the Indian bowlers to rectify their mistake. Unfortunately, that didn't happen as Simmons was given a third life after a bowler overstepped.

This time, the culprit was Hardik Pandya as the allrounder landed his foot way outside the bowling crease and Simmons, who was batting on 50, slapped a juicy full-toss straight to Ashwin at the cover. Once again, the Trinidadian survived as he went on to score an unbeaten 82 and took his team to the final.

2. India vs Pakistan, 2017 Champions Trophy final

Jasprit Bumrah (Source - Twitter)

Pakistan faced their arch-rivals India at the Oval in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to field first. Kohli's gamble to chase a total in the final almost paid off as Jasprit Bumrah had Fakhar Zaman caught behind for just three in the fourth over of the game.

But, the joy was short-lived as Bumrah clearly overstepped and gave Zaman a reprieve. He went on to score a match-winning ton and helped his team post 338/4 in the first innings. India managed to score just 158 as they lost the match by 180 runs.

3. India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I, 2023

Arshdeep Singh (Source - Twitter)

Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has impressed everyone with his variations in the shortest form of cricket but recently he made an unwanted embarrassing record in International cricket. Arshdeep came for the second over of the first innings, he bowled the first five balls well, but while bowling the last ball, he bowled 3 back-to-back no balls. After this, he also bowled two no-balls in the 19th over.

Arshdeep became the bowler with the most number of no balls in T20 International. In his fourth no-ball of the match, Dasun Shanaka hit the resulting free hit for a six. Two balls later, Arshdeep overstepped again. Shanaka was on 30 off 14 when he got the reprieve. He went on to score an unbeaten 56 off 22 to haul his side past 200. The no-ball penalties and free hits cost India 27 runs. The margin of their defeat was 16.