India coach Sridhar Bahutule says the introduction or use of free hits in Test cricket could help reduce the number of no-balls. Speaking after the fourth day of play on Wednesday, he argues that bowling a no-ball and conceding the extra ball and runs is something teams would want to avoid.
Bahutule’s comments frame free hits as a deterrent: when a no-ball results in an immediate free-hit delivery for the batter, teams may be less inclined to bowl no-balls. Both outlets report the same statement and do not present an opposing view or additional evidence in this material.
The coverage is consistent across the two sources, which both emphasize Bahutule’s reasoning rather than detailing any specific match, proposed rule change, or official response from cricket’s governing bodies.
