The Board of Control for Cricket in India may lift the ban on applying saliva on the ball in this season of IPL starting from March 22. This proposal has been discussed in detail in the BCCI. It will be placed before the captains of the IPL teams on Thursday in Mumbai. The ICC had banned applying saliva on the ball to shine it during Corona. IPL also continued the ban.
IPL guidelines are beyond the jurisdiction of ICC. According to a BCCI official, applying saliva on the ball was common before Corona. Now that there is no threat of Corona, there is no harm in lifting the ban on applying saliva on the ball in IPL. Earlier, experienced Indian team fast bowler Mohammed Shami had urged the ICC to allow the use of saliva on the ball. Due to the ban on the use of saliva, fast bowlers were facing difficulty in getting reverse swing.
Mohammed Shami had said that there is a need to apply saliva on the ball or else it will be completely in favor of the batters. The experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami said, ‘We try to reverse swing, but you cannot use saliva on the ball. We are constantly seeking permission to use saliva and reverse swing will make the game interesting.’
IPL 2025 is going to start from March 22. The first match will be played between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This year a total of 74 matches will be played between 10 teams in 13 venues in 65 days, which will include 70 league rounds and four playoff matches. All the playoff matches including the final will be played in Hyderabad and Kolkata from 20 to 25 May.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad will host Qualifier 1 and Eliminator on May 20, 2025 and May 21. After this, Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host Qualifier 2 on May 23 and the final on May 25. There are a total of 12 double headers in IPL 2025. On the day of the double header, the first match will be played from 3.30 pm and the second match from 7.30 pm.