The COVID-19 pandemic saw several changes in cricket's age-old rules. One such rule forbade bowlers from using saliva on the ball.
In recent months, several bowlers have been vocal about bringing back the old practice. Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami had urged the ICC to consider the change, as applying saliva on the ball greatly benefits pacers.
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Ahead of the IPL 2025 season, the BCCI allowed bowlers to use saliva to shine the ball. The Indian board lifted the long-standing ban ahead of the new season.
BCCI’s decision followed a meeting with all IPL team captains in Mumbai before the season began. The move came after growing demands from bowlers -- including India’s Mohammad Shami -- who had urged the ICC to reverse the ban to help bowlers generate reverse swing.
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What did Bhuvneshwar Kumar say on using saliva again?
Speaking ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s third home match of the season against Punjab Kings, experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that he intends to finally make use of the change in rule, as he told reporters,
“I forgot that I can use saliva. Yesterday when the staff told me, I didn’t know that I have to use it. I am not sure if it will help or not, but now that I remember, definitely in tomorrow’s match I will put some saliva and see if it helps or not,” he said.
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Speaking about Friday’s match in Bengaluru, Kumar also commented on how the traditionally batting-friendly Chinnaswamy pitch hasn’t played the same this season.
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“Yes, we know Chinnaswamy is known for batting, but look at the wicket, it is not the same as it used to be,” he said. He added that RCB would assess the conditions in the early overs before finalising their approach.
A former captain himself at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kumar had good things to say about RCB skipper Rajat Patidar. Praising Patidar's calm approach, the fast bowler added: “We lost two matches, but he’s been the same whether we won or we lost… He’s been superb."