The ban on applying saliva on the ball in cricket is set to be lifted during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after all ten captains gave their consent on the issue. The decision was reached after a mandatory captain’s meeting at the BCCI headquarters where suggestions were sought and the captains agreed that the ban should be lifted to benefit the bowlers.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had initially banned the practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, before making it a permanent ban in 2022. The IPL followed suit with the ban, but discussions started during the ICC Champions Trophy about the need to use saliva on the ball to bring reverse swing back into the game.
Under the existing playing conditions, there are penalties for applying saliva on the ball, but with the ban set to be lifted, bowlers will have something to cheer for. Additionally, the Impact Player rule will stay in the upcoming IPL edition as it has made the tournament more interesting, according to insiders.
Overall, the decision to lift the ban on applying saliva on the ball in the IPL 2025 will provide bowlers with a welcomed advantage and add excitement to the game.
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