'I don't use it, it's a myth' - Mitchell Starc disagrees with saliva advantage claims in IPL 2025

After a nail-biting Super-Over victory against the Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc made headlines not just for his match-winning spells but for his views on the saliva use. Starc dismissed the fact that saliva provides any real advantage in white-ball cricket, calling it a myth.

The tall left-arm pacer who played a crucial role in the Capitals’ win, defending nine runs in the final over and keeping Rajasthan to 11 in the Super Over. While his execution of the yorkers grabbed immense praise, he disagreed with the fact that the saliva gave any help, instead believing in using sweat in white-ball cricket.

“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 told Star Sports after the match.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, saliva was banned across formats, including the IPL. But with the BCCI lifting the restriction for IPL 2025, there has been increasing discussion about its role in assisting bowlers, particularly with the old white ball.

According to data, for the first time this decade, fuller deliveries (including yorkers) have been more economical than shorter ones in the death overs. That shows either the bowlers are executing their yorkers better, possibly with the help of reverse swing, or the batters are struggling with the late movement.

However, Starc, despite being one of the IPL’s most impactful bowlers this season, with 10 wickets in six games, including a five-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad, credits sweat more than saliva for his advantage. He bowled the 18th and 20th overs, dismissing Nitish Rana with a swinging yorker and keeping Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel quiet under pressure.

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In the Super Over, despite a no-ball, the Australian speedster consistently executed his yorkers and forced two run-outs, eventually getting Delhi to their fifth win of the season.