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The BCCI are considering bringing in some major changes in the rules for the upcoming IPL 2025 season which begins on Saturday.
Team India pacer Mohammed Shami wanted more help for the bowlers in international cricket. One of the ways he suggested was lifting the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball which was imposed after the COVID-19 pandemic few years back.
In a move that could have worldwide implications, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering lifting the ban on applying saliva to the ball in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, set to begin on March 22. The proposal has been extensively discussed within the BCCI and will be presented to the captains of all IPL teams in the captain’s meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.
https://t.co/MRm2QRMD1n pic.twitter.com/RduysrDDsN
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 20, 2025
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had initially banned the age-old practice of using saliva to shine the ball as a COVID-19 precautionary measure. In 2022, the ban was made permanent. While the IPL had also adopted the ICC’s restriction in its playing conditions post-pandemic, its regulations remain independent of the global governing body.
“Using saliva on the ball was an integral part of the game until COVID changed the landscape. Now that the threat has subsided, we believe there is no harm in lifting the ban in the IPL,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
“We understand it has a more significant impact in red-ball cricket, but even in the white-ball format, if it offers bowlers some assistance, it should be allowed. The IPL is a trendsetting tournament—let’s see what the captains decide tomorrow.”
Should the IPL lift the ban, the ICC may be compelled to reassess its stance on the issue. During the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India and Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Shami emphasized the need for saliva application in a game increasingly dominated by batters.
“We keep appealing for saliva use to bring back reverse swing, which would make the game more balanced and engaging,” Shami in Dubai earlier this month.
Fast-bowling greats Vernon Philander and Tim Southee have also supported Shami’s stance.
Current IPL Rules on Saliva Use
As per existing IPL regulations, if a player applies saliva to the ball:
- On the first instance, the fielding captain receives a warning.
- On the second instance, a final warning is issued.
- On the third or subsequent instance, the offending player is fined either ₹10 lakh or 25% of their match fee, whichever is lower.
DRS to cover height and off-side wides too
In another major development, the IPL 2025 is set to extend the Decision Review System (DRS) to include height-based wides and wides outside the off-stump. “Hawk-Eye and ball tracking technology will be used to assess these wides. If an on-field umpire calls a wide for height and the fielding side believes it was not high enough, they can opt for DRS,” the official added.
This change aims to enhance decision-making accuracy and reduce umpiring errors in crucial game situations.
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