The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lifted the ban on the use of saliva to shine the cricket ball for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This decision was made following a meeting with team captains in Mumbai, where the majority supported reintroducing saliva application, a practice prohibited since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had initially imposed a temporary ban on the use of saliva as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic and made this ban permanent in 2022. However, the IPL’s playing conditions are determined by the BCCI, allowing for independent decisions regarding tournament regulations.
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj welcomed the BCCI’s decision, stating that applying saliva can aid bowlers in achieving reverse swing, especially when the ball isn’t offering much assistance.
In addition to lifting the saliva ban, the BCCI has introduced other rule changes for IPL 2025:
Second New Ball in Second Innings: To address the dew factor in night matches, a second ball will be introduced after the 11th over of the second innings. This measure aims to ensure a more level playing field, reducing the advantage for teams winning the toss.
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