In a significant development, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has decided to allow bowlers to apply saliva on the ball starting from the 2025 season. The decision was made after a majority of franchise captains voiced their support for the change during a meeting with IPL decision-makers at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, several captains at the meeting agreed that the ban on using saliva, which was implemented by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and adopted across all levels of cricket, has negatively impacted bowlers. The restriction has particularly hindered reverse swing, a skill that has become increasingly rare in white-ball cricket, including One Day Internationals (ODIs), where two new balls are used.
The saliva ban was first introduced in May 2020 as a temporary measure during the Covid-19 pandemic to minimize health risks. However, in September 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent, citing ongoing concerns about hygiene and safety.
The move to reintroduce saliva in the IPL comes after growing concerns about the balance between bat and ball in modern cricket. Bowlers have struggled to maintain the ball’s condition, especially in shorter formats, where the lack of reverse swing has tilted the game heavily in favor of batsmen.
India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami recently urged the ICC to reconsider the ban, emphasizing its impact on the art of reverse swing. Speaking after India’s victory over Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Shami said, “We are trying [to get reverse swing], but the usage of saliva on the ball is not allowed. We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting.”
The IPL’s decision to allow saliva marks a significant shift in cricket’s post-pandemic regulations. While the league operates under the broader framework of ICC rules, it has the autonomy to implement changes for its tournaments. The move is expected to rejuvenate the role of bowlers in T20 cricket, providing them with a better chance to compete against the dominance of power-hitting batsmen.
The decision has sparked discussions about whether other cricketing boards and the ICC will follow suit. For now, IPL 2025 promises to bring back an old-school element to the game, potentially restoring the balance between bat and ball and making contests more intriguing for fans.
Source: ESPNcricinfo
