The IPL 2025 season will allow bowlers to use saliva on the ball again and let teams request a ball change after the 10th over if dew affects play.
The BCCI has introduced key rule changes ahead of IPL 2025 following a meeting with team captains, coaches, and managers. The updates, finalized after discussions with all 10 franchises, will impact ball maintenance, playing conditions, and match regulations.
Bowlers will now be allowed to use saliva to shine the ball, reversing the ban imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision aims to restore traditional ball maintenance practices.
To tackle the impact of dew in evening matches, the bowling team can request a ball change once after the 10th over. The umpires will replace it with another ball of similar wear, but teams cannot choose the replacement. Umpires can also change the ball earlier if it becomes too wet, damaged, or out of shape.
“The team bowling second will now have the option to request a ball change once after the 10th over. The bowling captain can make this request, regardless of whether there is visible dew or not. Once the request is made, the umpires will mandatorily replace the ball with another one of similar wear and tear. The bowling team will not have the liberty to choose the replacement ball,” the official release from BCCI read.
Additionally, a new Code of Conduct will come into effect this season, introducing a demerit points system with suspensions valid for 36 months.
The DRS scope has also been expanded to include reviews for height-based no-balls and wide deliveries beyond the off-stump. Hawk-Eye and ball-tracking technology will assist umpires in making more consistent decisions.
