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IPL 2025: Ban on use of saliva to shine cricket balls lifted

India correspondent•@soutikBBC

AFP Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Mohammed Siraj delivers a ball during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 12, 2024. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP)

Bowlers will be allowed to use saliva to shine the cricket ball in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), reversing the ban imposed during the Covid pandemic five years ago, reports say.

Indian cricket's governing body's decision came after a majority of the tournament's franchise captains supported the move during a meeting on Thursday, ESPNcricinfo said.