IPL 2025: Saliva ban revoked, two balls in play — game-changer or gimmick? | Cricket News – The Times of India

IPL Trophy (Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: It is that point of the yr. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is about to kick off — however with a bunch of rule modifications, many of which have already drawn consideration.
While most of the current updates make sense to an extent, each present and former gamers are eager to see how the modifications pan out over the following two months.
Among the headline-grabbing guidelines are: the return of saliva to shine the ball and the introduction of a second ball for the second innings in night matches.
With these new laws in place, sure questions have began creeping into the equation: What was the necessity for these new norms? How might these profit the gamers — bowlers in this case? And are these guidelines a game-changer or gimmick?
“If you look at it, saliva is used less on a new ball; sweat is used more because the new white ball is lighter,” Parvinder Awana, who performed three IPL seasons for Kings XI Punjab, informed TimesofIndia.com.
Over the previous few seasons, 200-plus scores have develop into routine in the IPL, due to flat wickets and flamboyant bravado of the batters. The Impact Player rule made a big distinction final season.
Bowlers, notably pacers, have struggled to get a lot buy off the floor with the white ball.

The lifting of the saliva ban would possibly simply tilt the stability barely in their favour.
“When the ball gets a bit older, one side needs to be made slightly heavier for reverse swing. That’s when saliva is applied, and it helps the ball shine better,” the 38-yr-previous defined.
“The red ball shines more because its leather is softer. The white ball is harder, and its shine wears off quickly. It swings early on, but as it ages, the swing reduces.”
However, for saliva to be efficient, the enjoying floor must be conducive to reverse swing. That means some put on and tear on the pitch — and on one facet of the ball.
“If the pitch and ground conditions are a bit rough, and if some saliva is applied to shine one side while keeping the other side rough, the ball will reverse swing,” Awana elaborated.
While it stays to be seen how a lot of a distinction saliva could make, the introduction of a second ball in the second innings of night video games is predicted to convey noticeable aid for bowlers.
By giving bowlers a worn-down ball after the eleventh over of the second innings, the second ball rule goals to counter the dew issue — a perennial problem in evening matches.
This transfer is predicted to revive some stability between bat and ball, and scale back the toss benefit usually gained by the chasing facet.
“In evening matches, there’s usually dew. So if a second new ball is used, it would help bowlers with grip. And a new ball could also swing,” Awana identified.
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However, the implementation of this transformation just isn’t automated.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has left the choice on ball alternative to the discretion of the on-area umpires.

While acknowledging the potential affect of this transfer, Awana is cautiously optimistic and eager to look at the way it performs out in actual-time
He concluded, “As a fast bowler myself, it’s a good thing for bowlers; it’s something new. Let’s see how it plays out when the season starts.”