Chris Gayle Skeptical About Impact of Lifting Saliva Ban in IPL 2025
Two days before the IPL 2025 season began; the BCCI lifted the ban on using saliva to shine the ball, marking a significant shift in playing conditions. The ban was initially imposed by the ICC in 2020 as a COVID-19 precaution and made permanent in 2022. However, IPL captains overwhelmingly supported the move during a meeting with BCCI officials, leading to its reversal for the league.
The decision has been met with positive feedback from players and coaches. Mohammed Siraj welcomed the change, emphasizing its importance for fast bowlers to generate swing on increasingly flat pitches. He noted that saliva would help bowlers achieve conventional swing early in the innings and reverse swing later. Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Andy Flower also backed the decision, citing its potential to balance the game.
Despite this optimism, IPL legend Chris Gayle remains skeptical about its impact. He argued that sweat has been an effective alternative and that batting-friendly conditions in T20 cricket limit bowlers’ ability to leverage such changes. Gayle pointed to rising first-innings scores in IPL over the years, which highlight how pitches and batting approaches have evolved to favor batters.
BCCI’s move may be a step toward restoring parity in T20 cricket, but its true impact remains to be seen.