BCCI Lifts Saliva Ban in IPL 2025: New Rules to Tackle Dew and Enhance Game Balance

In a significant development for the upcoming 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to lift the ban on using saliva to shine the ball. The decision was made after a majority of IPL team captains expressed their support for the proposal during a meeting held in Mumbai on Thursday.

THE RETURN OF SALIVA IN IPL

The use of saliva on the ball had been prohibited by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a COVID-19 precaution, a measure adopted globally to limit the spread of the virus. The IPL, like all other cricket tournaments, adhered to this rule. However, following several calls from players, including India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami, the BCCI has lifted the restriction. 

Shami, earlier this month during India’s Champions Trophy campaign in Dubai, had voiced the need to bring back saliva to facilitate reverse swing. “We are trying to get reverse swing, but the usage of saliva is not allowed. We keep urging authorities to let us use saliva to bring reverse swing back and make the game more exciting,” he had remarked. This sentiment was shared by other prominent fast bowlers, such as Vernon Philander and Tim Southee, who echoed Shami’s concerns.

The move to revoke the saliva ban was welcomed by the majority of IPL captains, leading to its implementation for the 2025 season, marking IPL as the first major cricket tournament to reintroduce the practice since the pandemic.

TACKLING THE DEW FACTOR: NEW BALL RULE INTRODUCED

In addition to lifting the saliva ban, the BCCI also addressed the persistent issue of dew, which has often given an unfair advantage to teams batting second. To counter this, the BCCI has introduced a new rule that allows the use of a second new ball in the second innings. The second ball will be brought into play after the 11th over of the second innings, effectively minimizing the impact of dew on the match.

This move is expected to ensure a more balanced contest between the two teams, regardless of which one wins the toss. According to reports, the new rule aims to neutralize the dew factor and provide a more level playing field, preventing one team from having an undue advantage due to the conditions.

CONCLUSION

With the saliva ban lifted and a new second-new-ball rule in place, the BCCI is looking to make the 2025 IPL season more competitive and fair. These changes are likely to add a new layer of excitement to the tournament, ensuring that both fast bowlers and batters can adapt to the challenges presented by both the ball and the playing conditions.