The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to lift the saliva ban for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. According to a report by PTI, the decision was made after consulting the IPL captains, most of whom supported the move. This marks a significant change, as the use of saliva on the ball had been prohibited since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) enforcing a permanent ban in 2022.
A BCCI official confirmed the decision, stating, “The saliva ban has been lifted. The majority of captains were in favour of the move.” The matter was reportedly discussed during a BCCI meeting held in Mumbai, and the decision was communicated to all team captains and managers.
The push to lift the saliva ban had gained momentum earlier, with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami raising the issue during the Champions Trophy.
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Shami had openly expressed the need for saliva to help bowlers generate swing and reverse swing, especially in limited-overs cricket. “We always keep requesting the authorities to allow us to use saliva so that swing and reverse come into play during matches,” Mohammed Shami had said.
Saliva ban removed ✅
Two balls for the second innings ✅BCCI have announced key rule changes for the upcoming IPL season.#IPL2025 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/23WagmteRF
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) March 20, 2025
The IPL now becomes the first major cricket tournament to reintroduce saliva, offering bowlers a slight edge in a format that heavily favors batters. Alongside this change, the BCCI has also introduced a rule to tackle the impact of dew during night matches. From IPL 2025, a second new ball will be made available from the 11th over of the second innings.
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Umpires will assess the extent of dew before deciding whether to change the ball. IPL 2025 is set to kick off on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens. With these new regulations, fans can expect an exciting and possibly more balanced tournament.
