Ahead of the 18th version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the decision-makers revoked the ban on saliva for the aim of shining the ball. It got here on the again of consensus among the many captains of the ten franchises that the ban was hampering the power to garner reverse swing and thus skewing the steadiness between bat and ball. Applying saliva on the ball, an age-old apply in cricket, had been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2020 in view of well being issues that arose on the top of the Covid pandemic.
While the ban stays in worldwide cricket, the choice of the IPL to permit the use of saliva to shine the ball has been welcomed by quick bowlers. Delhi Capitals medium-pacer Mohit Sharma mentioned on Tuesday that reverse swing has once more develop into an element within the demise overs.
“It has made a difference 100%. In a majority of the games, the ball is tailing in,” Mohit instructed reporters. “It is because saliva is heavy. Sweat isn’t that heavy. When the ball is heavy on one side, it will reverse. There isn’t a lot of dew on most grounds. And even when there is dew, the ball will reverse if you maintain it well. Allowing saliva has definitely made an impact on getting reverse swing.”
Gujarat Titans pacer Mohammed Siraj had made related observations after claiming 4 for 17 in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6. With the ball reversing in that recreation, Siraj was capable of get the higher of Aniket Verma within the nineteenth over with a pinpoint yorker that swung in late and trapped the batter in entrance of the stumps.
Published – April 15, 2025 07:34 pm IST
