Fast bowlers have welcomed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to lift the ban on using saliva to shine the ball in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), but concerns remain over the dominance of batsmen in the shortest format of the game.
The ban, originally imposed in 2020 due to Covid-19 health concerns, was made permanent by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2022. However, after a meeting with IPL franchise captains, the BCCI has decided to reinstate the practice for the upcoming 18th edition of the tournament, which begins on Saturday with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens.
Bowlers cheer, but will it change anything?
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who will be representing Gujarat Titans this season, welcomed the decision, calling it "excellent news" for bowlers.
“When the ball isn’t doing much, using saliva will help in maintaining shine and increase the chances of reverse swing,” Siraj told Press Trust of India. “Scrubbing the ball against the shirt doesn’t help, but saliva can aid movement, especially under dry conditions.”
Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who had previously urged the ICC to reconsider the saliva ban, echoed similar sentiments. “We keep appealing for it so that reverse swing can return and make the game more interesting,” he said after India's Champions Trophy semi-final win over Australia.
The move has also been supported by former international bowlers, including South Africa’s Vernon Philander and New Zealand’s Tim Southee.
The bigger issue – A batter’s game?
While the return of saliva could aid pacers, some experts believe it is unlikely to significantly shift the balance of power in white-ball cricket.
Last season, IPL batters smashed a record 1,260 sixes, averaging one every 13 balls. The year before, Gujarat pacer Yash Dayal became a cautionary tale when he was hit for five sixes in an over by Rinku Singh on a flat Ahmedabad pitch. The incident turned Dayal into an internet meme, forcing him to take a break from the game due to mental health struggles.
“Allowing saliva is just a minor tweak; it does not address the fundamental issue of flat, lifeless pitches that heavily favor batsmen,” cricket analyst Sharda Ugra told the BBC. “For a real balance, changes need to be made in pitch preparation and match conditions.”
The highest total in IPL history—263 for five by RCB in 2013—was surpassed four times in the 2024 season. In the league’s 17-year history, there have been 10 instances of teams scoring over 250 runs, highlighting the increasing dominance of batsmen.
Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad also urged caution, citing health concerns. “The saliva ban was introduced to maintain cleanliness, and we cannot predict when a new virus may emerge,” he told The Times of India.
Will ICC follow suit?
The decision to lift the ban in IPL has reignited the debate over whether the ICC should allow saliva use in international cricket, particularly in Test matches where reverse swing plays a crucial role.
Spin great R Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, questioned the initial research behind the ban. “The ICC claimed saliva didn’t impact reverse swing much, but if that’s the case, why not allow it again?” he asked on his YouTube channel.
However, it remains unclear if the ICC, led by Jay Shah—former BCCI secretary—will reconsider its stance.
For now, IPL bowlers will have a slight advantage with the return of saliva, but without fundamental changes to pitch conditions and rules, the shortest format is likely to remain a batsman’s paradise.
