Courtesy: BCCI/IPL
Australia and Delhi Capitals (DC) pacer Mitchell Starc has opined that saliva doesn’t favour bowlers in the white-ball formats of the game. Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permitted the use of saliva. The ban on saliva was imposed in 2020, when the COVID-19 was reigning the world. After the ban was lifted, India pacer Mohammed Siraj expressed his joy and welcomed the board’s decision. He believed that the saliva use would assist bowlers as it will help them shine the ball. Siraj’s senior colleague in Team India Mohammed Shami also favours the saliva use.
Following India’s victory against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, Shami said it’s becoming difficult for bowlers to get reverse swing due to the saliva ban. He also remarked that the return of saliva would make matches more intriguing. However, Starc has now come up with his opinion on the saliva use. The 35-year-old has said saliva can make a difference on a red ball used in Test cricket, but can’t make an impact on a white ball which features in limited-over formats of the sport.
After guiding DC to victory against RR in the IPL 2025 match played in Delhi, Starc said, “I don't use it. I think it's a myth. Some people think they swear by it. I don't know what the difference is with sweat and saliva. I don't reckon it makes a difference. It can make a difference on the red ball. I don't reckon it makes a difference on the white ball.”
Starc snatched victory from RR's hands in IPL 2025
In the IPL 2025 game played between DC and RR at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Starc again proved why he is still the best in business. Bowling the last over of the second innings, when RR were required nine to win, the pacer held his nerves against Shimron Hetmyer, who is known for hitting boundaries.
Confronting the Caribbean batter, he bowled four deliveries and gave away only six runs. Eventually, scores were level at the end of RR’s innings which took the match to the Super Over. The veteran faced Hetmyer and Riyan Parag in the Super Over and won the battle, splurging only 11 runs in six balls. His bowling brilliance got him the player of the match (POTM) award.
