The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lifted the COVID-imposed ban on using saliva on the ball for the upcoming 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the majority of captains agreed to the proposal. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the practice during Covid-19 as a precautionary measure, but the decision to remove the ban came after Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, along with other players, advocated for its reinstatement to bring back reverse swing. BCCI’s decision to reintroduce saliva use makes IPL the first major cricketing event to do so post-pandemic.
In addition, BCCI introduced a new rule to counter the dew factor in IPL matches by allowing the use of a second ball in the second innings after the 11th over. This rule aims to level the playing field and reduce any advantage gained by winning the toss in dewy conditions. Fans can stay updated on IPL news, player statistics, and match insights on HT Crickit, powered by Hindustan Times.
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