The decision-makers for the upcoming 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have decided to revoke the ban on using saliva to shine the ball. This decision came after the captains of the ten franchises expressed their concerns about the ban affecting the ability to achieve reverse swing and tipping the balance between bat and ball. The ban on saliva was initially implemented by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2020 due to health concerns during the Covid pandemic.
While the ban still remains in international cricket, the IPL has allowed the use of saliva to maintain one side of the ball, much to the delight of fast bowlers. Delhi Capitals’ medium-pacer Mohit Sharma noted that the reintroduction of saliva has made a significant impact on reverse swing in the death overs. He explained that saliva is heavier than sweat, which helps in achieving reverse swing as the ball becomes heavier on one side.
Gujarat Titans pacer Mohammed Siraj also praised the decision, stating that he was able to utilize reverse swing to his advantage in a recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With the ball reversing, Siraj was able to dismiss Aniket Verma with a well-executed yorker that swung in late and trapped the batsman in front of the stumps. The allowance of saliva has been welcomed by players as it has brought back an important aspect of the game that was missing due to the ban.
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