The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially lifted the ban on using saliva to shine the ball for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This decision came after a captains' meeting held on Thursday, March 20, where most team captains agreed to reintroduce the practice. The BCCI had internally discussed the matter beforehand, but the final call was left to the captains, who collectively voted in favor of allowing saliva use for the upcoming season.
A source close to the development had earlier informed Sports Tak, a sister channel of India Today, that the BCCI encouraged the captains to deliberate on the issue. The source emphasized that the board remained neutral, leaving the decision to the players. "It's their call. If they want to go ahead with it, we have no issue — we're okay with that. And if the ICC makes changes in the future, it will be for the betterment of cricket," the source stated.
The use of saliva was banned globally by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, due to health and safety concerns. This significantly impacted fast bowlers, limiting their ability to generate reverse swing — a critical skill, especially in longer formats and during death overs in T20 cricket. The BCCI aligned with the ICC's stance and enforced the saliva ban in the IPL, which first moved entirely to the UAE in 2020. The 2021 season was also disrupted mid-way due to a surge in COVID-19 cases within the IPL bio-bubble, leading to the second half being completed in the UAE later that year.
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been among the vocal proponents of bringing back saliva for ball maintenance. During the Champions Trophy, he openly urged the ICC to reconsider the ban, highlighting the challenges faced by bowlers in achieving reverse swing without saliva. "We are trying to reverse (swing), but you are not getting the use of saliva into the game. We are constantly appealing to allow the use of saliva, and it will be interesting with the reverse swing," Shami said during a media interaction in Dubai.
Cricket experts have expressed mixed reactions to the decision. Some believe this move will restore balance between bat and ball, especially on flat, batter-friendly pitches seen frequently in the IPL. Fast bowlers, who often struggle to generate movement in the air under such conditions, may now find reverse swing a useful weapon during the latter stages of an innings. On the other hand, critics argue that saliva poses potential hygiene risks, even though COVID-19 fears have subsided. They question whether the decision sets a precedent that could conflict with international cricket regulations.
Players from other franchises, including senior pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins, have remained reserved on the topic, waiting to see how the rule impacts gameplay. Former cricketers like Dale Steyn and Michael Vaughan, however, have voiced their support, with Steyn tweeting, "Bowling finally gets some love again. Reverse swing is an art, and it's been missing for too long."
The reintroduction of saliva could also influence team strategies and squad compositions. Franchises might now reconsider their bowling lineups, giving more weight to experienced reverse-swing specialists. Bowlers known for their ability to manipulate the old ball — like Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, and even seasoned Indian quicks like Umesh Yadav — could become even more valuable in the IPL auction dynamics for future seasons.
The highly anticipated IPL 2025 season will kick off with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) facing off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), now led by Rajat Patidar, on Saturday, March 22, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This opening clash promises to set the tone for the season, with fans eager to see how the saliva rule impacts bowlers and whether it brings the long-lost art of reverse swing back into the limelight.
For now, the focus remains on whether this decision stays IPL-specific or influences international cricket, particularly the ICC's stance. Regardless, one thing is clear — IPL 2025 is shaping up to be a season where fast bowlers could make a serious comeback, with saliva and reverse swing playing a pivotal role in shifting the balance of power on the pitch.
