IND vs SL, 2nd T20I: No balls in any format of the game is crime: Hardik Pandya

New Delhi : IND vs SL, 2nd T20I: Indian skipper Hardik Pandya said that bowling no balls in any format is a crime. Though he was not blaming Arshdeep Singh, but he said that the young Pacer needs to stick to basics. His comments came during the post-match ceremony after India lost the game from Sri Lanka by 16 runs.

As India faced a defeat of 16 runs in the Second T20I, the 3-match series is now levelled by 1-1.

Arshdeep Singh was called in the second game after he missed the opener. He looked rusty and bowled as many as 5 no balls in his 2 overs, giving away 37 runs.

“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,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation.

“It is not about blaming him or to be too hard on him, but we know no-balls in any format is a crime,” he added.

Hardik also praised Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav, who stitched a 91-run sixth wicket stand to almost take the game away from Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan skipper was awarded player of the match.