Gavaskar criticises Arshdeep Singh for wayward bowling

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has criticised left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh for his wayward bowling in the 2nd T20I versus Sri Lanka.

Arshdeep bowled five no balls in his two-over spell during the hosts’ 16-run defeat to Sri Lanka.

Arshdeep, who returned to Indian colours after missing the opening T20I in Mumbai due to an illness, had a horrible time with the ball in Pune.

He conceded 37 runs off just the two overs and gave away no-balls three consecutive times in his first over of the match.

“As a professional, you can’t be doing this. We often hear that today’s players say, things aren’t in our control. Not bowling no ball is in your control.”

“What happens after you deliver the ball, what the batsman does, is another thing. Not bowling a no ball is definitely in your control,” said Gavaskar.

Even skipper Hardik Pandya was unimpressed by Arshdeep.

“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. It is not about blaming him or being too hard on him, but we know no-balls in any format is a crime,” Pandya said after the match ended.

The only person to support Arshdeep was veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik.

He said,“You’ve got to feel for Arshdeep Singh, just lack of match practice. It’s never easy.”

The three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka will now be decided in the last match of the series at SCA Stadium in Rajkot on Saturday.