Ravindra Jadeja has delivered the most no-balls in Test cricket (88) since 2021. The India all-rounder increased his tally during the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, highlighting a recurring discipline issue that has plagued him over several seasons.
The most recent additions came in the second Test against Sri Lanka, where Ravindra Jadeja bowled three no-balls in the first innings and one in the second innings. In the first Test of the series, he bowled two no-balls in the first innings and two in the second, for a total of eight no-balls in the two Tests’ four innings.
One of those deliveries in the second innings of the first Test provided Dhananjaya de Silva a lifeline, demonstrating the direct cost of such blunders in a close-fought game. Ravindra Jadeja also reached 350 Test wickets during the recent Sri Lanka series, so the no-ball record stands out against an otherwise impressive personal achievement.
How does Ravindra Jadeja tally compare to other spinners?
The difference between Ravindra Jadeja and the rest of the list is significant. Pakistan’s Noman Ali is second among spinners with 40 no-balls in Tests since 2021, less than half of Jadeja’s 88. Sri Lanka’s Lasith Embuldeniya is third with 33 no-balls in the same time frame.
England’s Jack Leach has bowled 19 no-balls in Tests since 2021, while West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican and Afghanistan’s Zahir Khan have both bowled 17. The five bowlers below Jadeja on the list have a total of 126 no-balls, which is only 38 more than Jadeja alone.
Most No Balls Since 2021
| Rank | Player Name | Country | No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 88* |
| 2 | Noman Ali | Pakistan | 40 |
| 3 | Lasith Embuldeniya | Sri Lanka | 33 |
| 4 | Jack Leach | England | 19 |
| 5 | Jomel Warrican | West Indies | 17 |
| 6 | Zahir Khan | Afghanistan | 17 |
When it comes to overstepping, Ravindra Jadeja is in a class by himself among frontline Test spinners, according to the statistics, and the Sri Lanka series has contributed to a record that was already well ahead of the field before this tour.
What are the implications of Ravindra Jadeja no-ball situation in Test cricket?
Spinners are thought to have more control over their front-foot landings than pace bowlers due to their slower run-ups and more regulated delivery strides. Jadeja’s record of 88 since 2021 is thus an aberration in terms of his own bowling style, and the frequency with which he has overstepped shows a persistent mechanical fault rather than a single slip.
The fact that Noman Ali, the second-best spinner, has 40 no-balls in the same span demonstrates that overstepping is not limited to Jadeja, but the magnitude of the disparity remains stunning. With the Sri Lanka series still ongoing as of writing, Jadeja’s total tally for this tour has yet to be determined.
