The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to allow the use of saliva on the ball again and implement a new rule for the upcoming IPL season. From IPL 2025, a second ball will be used in the second innings of each match.
These decisions were explained at a meeting with team captains and managers in Mumbai on Thursday, March 20th. Sources present at the BCCI headquarters confirmed these rule changes to various news outlets.
The new second ball rule will apply after the 11th over of the second innings. This is primarily aimed at reducing the impact of dew, which often affects evening matches and can give an unfair advantage to the team batting second.
By using a second ball, the BCCI aims to create a more balanced playing field, regardless of whether dew is a factor. This should minimize any advantage gained by winning the coin toss and fielding first in such conditions.
The decision to remove the saliva ban was widely anticipated. Previously, prominent players like Mohammed Shami had publicly requested the authorities to reconsider the rule.
Shami, along with international cricketers such as Vernon Philander and Tim Southee, had emphasized the importance of saliva for generating swing and reverse swing during matches.
The ban on saliva was initially introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit the spread of the virus. With the pandemic receding, voices like Shami’s have been advocating for the ban to be lifted.
Regarding the second ball, umpires will have the discretion to decide if a ball change is necessary, primarily based on dew conditions. Therefore, this rule is expected to be mainly applied in night matches, with afternoon games unlikely to require a second ball.
