IPL 2025 will get underway from March 22. Ahead of the season, the BCCI introduced two major changes for the upcoming edition.
Fast bowlers have used saliva to maintain the shine of the cricket ball. However, when cricket resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICC banned it.
Recently, after India beat Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final, Mohammed Shami appealed for the reintroduction of the use of saliva “so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting”. Shami’s plea found support from Tim Southee and Vernon Philander.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the BCCI revoked the ban on the use of saliva for the 2025 Indian Premier League when the captains and managers met at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai.
The other changed involved the use of two balls during the second innings of the night matches that begin at 7.30 pm Indian Standard Time (it is “unlikely” that it will be used in the 3.30 pm matches, adds the report).
Also read: IPL 2025: RCB's predicted playing XI and impact player
The second ball will be introduced after the 11th over, though it is not clear whether it will be a new ball or a ball 11 overs old. This will be done to “counter the impact of dew that often affects night-time matches”.
The BCCI expects this to nullify “any advantage that the captain winning the toss might have due to the dew factor, ensuring a more level-playing field in the matches”.
Cricbuzz also quoted a source on the role of the match officials regarding the same: “It’s up to the umpires to determine whether the ball needs to be changed. They will decide based on the presence of dew.”
