Definition of the word free hit

The term "free hit" originated in the game of cricket, specifically in the limited-overs form T20 (Twenty20). In T20 cricket, an over consists of six balls, and each ball bowled can result in the batter getting out or scoring runs. The rule of the free hit is a result of an unnecessary interruption in play that occurs due to various reasons, such as the wicketkeeper dropping a catch or the bowler overstepping his crease while bowling. In such scenarios, the umpire awards a free hit to the batting team, giving the batter an additional opportunity to score runs without any loss of penalty. The free hit is similar to a foul in football, where a non-conventional action has resulted in an unfair advantage to the non-offending team, and the referee has no other option but to give them a free shot at goal without any penalties. In summary, the "free hit" in cricket is a rule introduced to compensate for the unusual and undesirable occurrences that result in an unfair advantage to the fielding team and provides the batting team with an opportunity to score runs legally.