Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who is representing Delhi Capitals in the IPL, has shared a completely contradictory opinion about the use of saliva to polish the ball. As per Starc, saliva has a greater impact on red ball than on white ball. Meanwhile, ahead of the ongoing Indian Premier League, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had lifted the ban on the use of saliva, allowing the players to use it to shine the ball. However, there have been dissenting opinions from the players about it, with some backing it and some giving utterly different opinions.
Back in 2020, ICC prohibited the use of saliva, banning it completely following the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. But BCCI recently did away with the ban, giving a green signal to the players to use it in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
"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 said on Star Sports.
On Wednesday, Mitchell Starc performed brilliantly, inspiring Delhi Capitals to a shattering super over victory against Rajasthan Royals. Starc took the game into the super over with an eight-run 20th over. And later he leaked only 11 runs in the super over. Chasing the super-over total, KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs scored 13 runs with two balls to go to take DC home.