Bowlers are now allowed to use saliva on the ball for the first time in five years, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lifted the ban ahead of IPL 2025, which kicks off on March 22. However, Varun Chakaravarthy, a spinner for India and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), thinks that using saliva won't really change much.

During a meeting at the BCCI headquarters, all ten captains agreed to lift the saliva ban. For those who might not know, the ICC had initially banned saliva to shine the ball as a safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this ban became permanent in 2022. The IPL then followed suit with its own ban.

Additionally, the board has introduced a new rule that mandates a second new ball in the second innings to counteract the effects of dew. Varun believes this could actually benefit spinners since the ball will stay drier.

Before the IPL 2025 opener between KKR and RCB, Varun shared his thoughts with reporters, saying, "I noticed the rule changes. I don't think the saliva rule will make a significant difference. However, the dew rule, where you can switch the ball, might be advantageous for spinners."

He added, "When they change the ball in the 11th or 12th over, the spinner will be bowling, and it won't be as wet."

Varun has a different perspective compared to Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj

Varun has a different take on lifting the saliva ban compared to Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, who have previously emphasized the need to empower bowlers.

During the Champions Trophy, Shami expressed, "We keep asking for permission to use saliva so we can bring reverse swing back into the game, making it more exciting."

Siraj also supported the idea, noting that using saliva on the ball would assist bowlers in achieving reverse swing.

In a chat with PTI, Siraj mentioned, "This is great news for bowlers. When the ball isn’t doing much, applying saliva can boost our chances of getting some reverse swing."

He further explained, "It can help with reverse swing because rubbing the ball on your shirt won’t do the trick. Using saliva helps maintain the shine on one side, which is crucial."

Read Also: Puja Tomar Aims to Put Indian MMA on the Global Map at UFC

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!