The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has begun with a bang. In a nation that loves cricket, IPL has played a vital role in bringing families together over the last 17 years. The exciting new rules make this year’s IPL more interesting.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearers and the captains of 10 IPL teams met a few days ago at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. The hot topic of this session was lifting the ban on the usage of saliva to shine the cricket ball. All captains agreed to it, as it will stop matches from being one-sided. Since 2020, due to COVID-19, BCCI banned the use of saliva as a precautionary measure in IPL In the last five seasons, the bowling team used to apply sweat on the ball to get the reverse swing.
In 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC), banned the use of saliva from all formats of the game. However, after repeated suggestions from a few fast bowlers including Mohammad Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah, this year BCCI has lifted a ban on saliva only for IPL. The role of the bowlers in limited-over formats like T20 is important, especially during the death overs. Permission to apply saliva will give some relief to them, especially pacers.
India’s world cup winning captain Kapil Dev had expressed his views on the same a few days ago. “Bowlers must have at least some advantages. We can now allow them to use saliva again. It will balance the game between ball and bat. Otherwise, nowadays only batters are dominating in T20 and ODI cricket,” said the pacer who brought glory to the pace attack in India.
Former Indian coach Lalchand Rajput also highlighted a strong point. “Along with BCCI lifting the ban from saliva, I loved the rule of ball change in the second inning. Teams who have bowlers like Trent Boult, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Mohammad Shami can be threatening with reverse swing and new ball under the lights as well. Being a batsman, I always feel for bowlers in T20 format. The white ball doesn’t swing much with sweat on it. But saliva will definitely give them something to cheer about,” Rajput shared. He also suggested that ICC can now lift the ban on saliva in international cricket as well.
The IPL fans have their own take on the changed rules. Naksh Gohil, who is an RCB fan thinks the use of saliva will be beneficiary for RCB bowlers Bhuvi and Josh Hazelwood. Whereas, Abhishek Kaddi feels spinners can be more productive with this rule.
Former India batsman, Wasim Jaffer, thinks that the new rules will make the matches more competitive and balanced by giving an edge to the bowlers too. “In the last two seasons, IPL was all about batters. But the use of saliva and a new or second-ball option after the 10th over will bring bowlers back in the game. It’s a fair decision. It’s not ball tampering. Saliva helps add shine to the ball, it doesn’t change ball size or damage the ball,” said Jaffer.
“When the Impact player rule was introduced, quite a few hated it. Similarly, some may not agree with the use of saliva or the second ball rule. But eventually, it will help cricket to grow and make it more interesting,” he added.
The fact remains that the new rules are favouring the bowlers be it the saliva, DRS or a second ball. They surely give them an edge over the batters. The ‘death’ overs in both the innings, especially the second innings, will have a new meaning with these rules. How the batsmen play them out will be interesting. Radhika Muley, an ardent IPL fan who plays cricket for her school, feels this definitely dips the scales in favour of the bowlers. “Pacers or spinners, both will have an added advantage with this. And middle-order batter like me will have to face the consequences and be more alert,” Muley pointed out.
IPL 2025 surely promises to be a cracker of a season with these new rules. Ex-India medium pacer, Balwinder Singh Sandhu sums it up well calling the saliva permission and the extra ball option a do dhari talwar — a two-edged sword!
“For any medium pacer, the margin for error is small, especially in T20 cricket. That’s why, the use of saliva will give them a boost. They can reduce runs and also get some wickets,” says Sandhu. “However, I feel the change of ball can be risky at times as well. When there is no dew, I don’t think the fielding team will go for a ball change. Because sometimes, runs flow easily when the ball is changed. So, it’s like we say in Hindi, it is a Do Dhari Talwar!” he concludes.
Have a look at updated rules
Bowlers will be allowed to apply saliva on the ball in IPL 2025. The decision was taken by IPL after majority of the franchise captains voiced for the change at a meeting with the decision-makers of the tournament.
The BCCI approved the use of DRS for height wides and wides outside the off-stump. Hawk eye and ball tracking will be used to decide on the height wides and wides outside the off-stump.
To help counter dew, the IPL has decided to allow the team bowling second in an evening match to get the ball changed once after the tenth over. The ball will be picked by the umpires and the bowling team will have no say in the choice of the ball.
New Code of Conduct rules will apply from this season. Effectively, a demeriting points system will be introduced and the suspension points will remain valid for 36 months.
