The Indian Premier League (IPL) has once again allowed the application of saliva to polish the cricket ball, which was banned earlier in the COVID-19 era. Bowlers have embraced this move with open arms, as they can now better produce reverse swing.​

Siraj's Stellar Performance

Gujarat Titans' fast bowler Mohammed Siraj demonstrated the advantages of the relaxation of this rule with a terrific 4-17 in their latest seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Saying his pleasure, Siraj replied, "100 percent," when asked if bowlers like the end of the saliva prohibition. He went on, "If the ball tails a bit, it is a wicket. When there is no saliva, the ball comes onto the bat easily. This rule makes it much better for the bowlers, with lbw and bowled now a chance."

Effect on Bowling Motion

The return of saliva enables bowlers to polish one side of the ball while leaving the other side unpolished, allowing for late swing and introducing a strategic aspect to their game. This was seen in Siraj's previous outing, where he picked up 3-19 against his old team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With nine wickets in four games, Siraj is making a solid return after being left out of India's Champions Trophy squad.

Arshdeep Singh's Experience

In the same vein, Punjab Kings' pacer Arshdeep Singh applied reverse swing in his side's opener and picked up two crucial wickets. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said, "Arshdeep came in and told me that the ball is reversing a bit, so the saliva on the ball is helping the bowlers."

Historical Context and Rule Amendments

Reverse swing, introduced by Pakistani fast bowlers Sarfraz Nawaz and Imran Khan, has been a game-saver on batting pitches. The IPL had prohibited the employment of saliva after the International Cricket Council's (ICC) ban amid the pandemic. Nonetheless, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed this ban before the 18th edition of the IPL, corresponding to calls by cricketers such as Mohammed Shami, who called for its restoration for purposes of increasing competitiveness in the game. ​

Looking Ahead

As the IPL continues, the revival of saliva use is likely to have a major impact on match dynamics, providing bowlers with a new weapon to test batsmen and add depth to the battle between bat and ball