The Indian Cricket Committee (BCCI) has revoked the ban on saliva use and introduced a new rule for the second ball for two innings of the game. These are one of the most important decisions of BCCI and IPL Management (India Premier League) for the IPL season 2025.
BCCI explained the new rules during a meeting between captains and managers of Mumbai’s cricket centre on Thursday (March 20th). A well-located source attending a meeting at BCCI headquarters confirmed Cricbuzz rules.
The second ball will be played in IPL matches after the 11th. The main goal of this rule is to counter the effects of TEW, which often affects night games.
With the introduction of a second ball, this rule effectively absorbs all the advantages the captain wins due to the baptism factor to ensure the level player field in the game.
Given that Mohammed Shami Caliber players had asked the authorities to abolish the rules, the decision to increase the use of saliva use was more or less on the cards.
“We continue to ask authorities to use saliva to show up with swings and reverses during the match,” Shami said after the recent Champions Trophy game in Dubai. His pleas were supported by countries such as Vernon Philander and Tim South. The ban on the use of saliva was implemented during the Covid 19 pandemic when the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed restrictions to reduce spreading of the virus. As the pandemic was behind us, there has been an increasing number of calls to increase these restrictions, and Shami is one of the leading voices of cricket around the world and is calling for change.
Regarding the meeting, the BCCI has resigned at the judge’s discretion. “It will be up to the judge to determine whether the ball needs to be replaced, and it will be decided because of the dew’s presence,” the source said. As a result, this rule applies primarily to night games, and it is unlikely that a second ball will be used in the afternoon game.
