March 30, 2025: Indian pace veteran Umesh Yadav expressed his thoughts on the recent revocation of the saliva ban in the Indian Premier League (IPL), highlighting how it will benefit fast bowlers, particularly in white-ball cricket. Speaking at an AstroLawn event in Greater Noida on Sunday, Umesh explained how the saliva ban could make a difference when the ball is new, helping bowlers with swing.
“I think it might make a difference in white-ball cricket. But I think it depends on the situation, because there are night matches where the ball gets wet due to dew, so saliva does not matter at that time. When the ball is new, saliva is an important thing… So I think it is a very good thing that it has come back. It would help the fast bowlers a lot,” Umesh said.
On the topic of India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh praised his hard work, determination, and growth, calling him the best bowler of his generation. “When you have that talent, it is important to showcase it. When Bumrah came, and the way he has grown, he has always tried to do better. That is why he is here at this level. It is his hard work, practice, and thinking that have brought him here. When he started in the IPL and worked with Lasith Malinga, his Yorker got better. He learnt a lot within such a short time and now he is the best fast bowler of this generation,” Umesh added.
Regarding the T20 format, Umesh acknowledged that it has always been more favorable to batters, as the ball doesn’t swing much and the wickets tend to be flatter. “T20 was always dominant for batters. The ball does not swing or reverse during 20 overs. The ball does not get that worn out in T20s. The white ball does not move much, and wickets are often flat. If you do not execute well in T20s, you will go for runs. If one focuses on their execution and line or length, they get rewarded too. If a team scores 280, it could be because of poor execution. It will forever remain a batter-dominated game. In IPL, teams would be aiming to score as much as possible,” said Umesh.
On the subject of MS Dhoni’s position in the batting order during a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) home match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Umesh explained that it ultimately depends on the team’s strategy or Dhoni’s own preferences. “It depends on the team or Dhoni himself. They decide his position,” he said.
Umesh’s insights shed light on the dynamics of fast bowling in modern-day cricket, especially in T20s, as well as the evolving roles of star players like Bumrah and Dhoni in the IPL.