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ICC Men's Player of the month: Ajaz Patel wins for the month of December

December was a month of achievements for New Zealand's Ajaz Patel. Ajaz became the ICC Men's Player of the month for December 2021.

Jan 14, 2022, 8:11 AM2 min read

December was a month of achievements and records for New Zealand's Ajaz Patel. Ajaz became the ICC Men's Player of the month for December 2021. On day 2 of the second test match of India vs New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, Ajaz Patel attained the rarest record by picking up 10 wickets in a single inning in his birth city, that too in his first-ever tour of India. He is the third player in the history of test cricket to achieve this prestigious feat, and he achieved it on 4th December 2021.

The Kiwi player played only 1 test match in December and scalped 14 wickets with an average of 16.07. He completed the year with his bowling figure as 14/225 which happens to be the best bowling figure in a test match in 2021. Mayank Agarwal and Mitchell Starc were also the nominees for the ICC Men's Player of the month for December 2021 alongside Ajaz Patel.

Ajaz Patel: ICC Men's Player of the month: Ajaz Patel wins for the month of December | SportzPoint.com
Image Credit- Getty Images

Read also: SA vs IND: Virat Kohli faces criticism for remarks on Supersport

Month ICC Men's Player of the month
January Rishabh Pant
February Ravichandran Ashwin
March Bhuvneshwar Kumar
April Babar Azam
May Mushfiqur Rahim
June Devon Conway
July Shakib Al Hasan
August Joe Root
September Sandeep Lamichhane
October Asif Ali
November David Warner
December Ajaz Patel

Read also: Different IPL Title sponsors since the start

2022 has a lot of matches in store for the audience. Which cricketer are you rooting for this time?

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Most Wickets in IPL history

Over the years, it has been seen that teams who possess quality bowlers perform quite well, while those who struggle in this department generally lag behind. So, let's take a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history.

Mar 12, 2025, 2:45 PM7 min read

Most Wickets in IPL history

We have all heard multiple times that T20 cricket is a batter’s game. However, one thing is to be noted that it is a bowler who turns the game for his team most times. The teams across the world have understood the fact that they need a good set of bowlers to win a tournament. This is true in the biggest T20 tournament IPL as well.

Over the years, it has been seen that teams who possess quality bowlers perform quite well, while those who struggle in this department generally lag behind.

So, let's take a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Squads of every IPL team after the auction

Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in IPL history:

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 160* Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Ravindra Jadeja is easily the most well-rounded cricketer India has ever produced. A major portion of his success needs to be credited to the IPL, as the Saurashtra superstar built his international career by learning in the IPL under cricketing greats like Shane Warne, MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming, and others. 

Apart from missing the 2010 season, Ravindra Jadeja has played all the other seasons with him representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2012. He has played 240 games taking 160 wickets with the ball with an average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 7.62.

His generational fielding skills have also shined, as the 36-year-old has taken 103 catches in the competition, making him ‘The Ultimate All-rounder’ as he is the only player to have 1000+ runs, 100+ wickets, and 100+ catches, fulfilling his 3-dimensional abilities to the fullest. 

9. Jasprit Bumrah | 165* Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Jasprit Bumrah, the game-changer of the game has put his name at no. 9 on this list of bowlers who scalped the most wickets in IPL history. Bumrah has been playing for Mumbai Indians since the 2013 season, in which the franchise bought him at a cheap price.

Bumrah has scalped 165 wickets in 133 games with an average of 22.51. Meanwhile, Bumrah has bowled at an economy rate of 7.30 in the franchise cricket league. This year he will be playing for MI again as the franchise retained him before the mega auction.

8. Lasith Malinga | 170 Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Lasith Malinga, who is undoubtedly the greatest pacer in the IPL history has taken 170 wickets in 122 games he has played. Malinga averages 19.79 with the bowl and maintained an economy rate of 7.14 in the cash-rich league. 

Though 108 of these wickets have come in death overs where batters try to score at a faster pace and often get out in the process, still his overall numbers are too good to be questioned.

Malinga started playing for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 season, and last appeared in the 2019 season. His final over in the 2019 final was enough to prove his greatness even at that stage of his career.

7. Amit Mishra | 174 Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

The next bowler on the list is Indian leggie Amit Mishra who has picked 174 wickets in 162 games. The seventh-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL, Mishra, went unsold in the mega auction of IPL 2025. 

He has recorded an impressive economy of 7.37 in the league and has been crucial in taking wickets in middle overs. However, previously he has played for Lucknow Super Giants.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin | 180* Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Ravichandran Ashwin is always known as a great bowler in Test cricket but he has also proved his ability in the shortest format of the game. Meanwhile, Ash comes at number six on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history. 

Ashwin also has picked 180 wickets in 212 matches with an average of 29.82. He has also maintained an economy rate of 7.12. 

Ashwin went on to play for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, and returns to the CSK fold after having featured for Rajasthan Royals for the last three seasons.

The Indian off-spinner was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. Ashwin had burst onto the scene in 2009 with CSK under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. He represented Super Kings till 2015 and was part of two title-winning campaigns, in 2010 and 2011. 

5. Sunil Narine | 180* Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

The next bowler on this is none other than the West Indies magician Sunil Narine. Narine has taken 180 wickets in 176 games with an average of 25.39 and bowls with an economy rate of 6.73. 

He has been a crucial member of the Kolkata-based franchise KKR, as the franchise won the league back in 2012, 2014, and 2024.

Narine has also played as an opener under Gambhir's captaincy. However, currently, he is with the KKR franchise as they retain the off-spinner before the IPL 2025 mega auction.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 181* Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 181 wickets is the fourth name in this list of players with the most wickets in IPL. Bhuvi has played in 176 matches in which he took those 181 wickets at an average of 27.23. However, he has bowled with an economy rate of 7.56 in the league. 

Meanwhile, Bhuvi will play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise as they bought him in the IPL 2025 mega auction at a whopping 10.75 crore price.

3. Dwayne Bravo | 183 Wickets 

Most Wickets in IPL history

Dwayne Bravo with 183 wickets is the third name on the list. He is the second pacer after Lasith Malinga on the list to take the most wickets in IPL. 

Bravo had been a vital cog in Chennai’s bowling lineup, particularly in the death overs. With MS Dhoni being captain, Bravo’s potential has been used very cleverly for the team’s benefit. 

The all-rounder has played 161 IPL games and averages 23.82 with the ball. 

He played his last IPL match in the 2022 season for Chennai.

2. Piyush Chawla | 192 Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Piyush Chawla, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021 in the mini-auction is the second-highest wicket-taker in the league history. He has picked 192 wickets in 192 matches with an average of 26.60 and an economy being 7.96. 

Piyush Chawla has earlier featured for Chennai, Punjab, and Kolkata-based franchises in the cash-rich league.

Over the last two years, Chawla was the lead spinner for Mumbai Indians. But, no teams went for him in IPL 2025 auction.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 205* Wickets

Most Wickets in IPL history

Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the most wickets in IPL history. Chahal has played in 160 games in which he has scalped 205 wickets with an average of 22.44. Moreover, he has an economy of 7.84 in the league.

Previously Chahal has played for RCB till 2021 and this season he will be featuring the Rajasthan Royals as they bought him in the IPL mega auction.

Chahal was with Rajasthan Royals since the 2022 season, claiming 66 wickets in 46 games. He has also represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians earlier in the IPL. He is among the 19 bowlers to have claimed a hat-trick in the IPL.

The leg-break bowler also won the Purple Cap for being the leading wicket-taker during the 2022 season, with 27 wickets to his name in 17 games at an average of 19.51 and an economy of 7.75.

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India's performance in every ICC tournament

Indian Men's Cricket team have won a total of 7 ICC trophies so far in their history. Here is a detailed article on India's performance in every ICC tournament.

Mar 10, 2025, 2:35 PM4 min read

India's performance in every ICC tournament

India's performance in the ICC events has been mixed in recent years. The title win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 ended India’s 11-year-long ICC title drought after it last won a global tournament back in 2013 - the ICC Champions Trophy.

Their latest triumph came via Champions Trophy 2025, as they defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai in the final. It was the second consecutive ICC trophy for India under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.

So far, India have collected 7 ICC trophies including two 50 over World Cups, three Champions Trophy, and two T20 World Cups in 2007 and 2024.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won 3 ICC events as a captain and Rohit Sharma has 2 in those 7 ICC trophies that India won so far. In this article, SportzPoint will give you  details on India's performances in every ICC tournaments so far.

ICC Cricket World Cup (1975 - 2023):

India's performance in every ICC tournament | sportzpoint.com
India lost the 2023 ICC World Cup final against Australia. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) started the ODI World Cup back in the year 1975. From then, ICC organized the tournament a total of 13 times. Australia are the most successful in the format as they won 6 titles so far.

India won their first World Cup under Kapil Dev back in 1983 and next under Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2011. With 2 titles India are the second most successful team alongside West Indies in the 50 overs format after Australia. 

Read Also: Most ICC Trophy wins by any team

Indian Men's Cricket team also lost two ODI World Cup finals, one under Sourav Ganguly in 2003 and another one under Rohit Sharma in 2023. Here is how India performed in the each of the 13 editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

India's performance in every ICC Cricket World Cup

Year Result
1975 6th
1979 7th
1983 Champions
1987 Semi-Final
1992 7th
1996 Semi-Final
1999 6th
2003 Runner's up
2007 9th
2011 Champions
2015 Semi-Final
2019 Semi-Final
2023 Final

ICC Champions Trophy (1998 - 2025):

India's performance in every ICC tournament

ICC started a new tournament of the 50 overs format in 1998 called the Champions Trophy. It was also referred as a "Mini World Cup". Till 2006 the Champion's Trophy was held every two years. After that, it continues with a gap of 4 years from 2009.

In 2003, India reached the Finals of the tournament along with Sri Lanka. As the match got washed out and India were declared joint winners.

However, India finally won the ICC Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni in 2013 after defeating England by 5 runs.

In 2025, India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai to lift the trophy for the third time. It was the second consecutive ICC trophy for India under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.

Let's take a look at India's performance in the tournament so far.

Read Also | ICC Men's Champions trophy winners list

India's performance in Champions Trophy so far

Year Result
1998 Semi-Final
2000 Runner's up
2002 Co-Champions with Sri Lanka
2004 Group Stage
2006 Group Stage
2009 Semi-Final
2013 Champions
2017 Runner's up
2025 Champions

ICC T20 World Cup (2007 - 2024):

India's performance in every ICC tournament | sportzpoint.com
India won their latest ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. Image | ICC

International Cricket Council introduced a new format marquee tournament in 2007 as T20 Cricket started to grow globally. ICC started the T20 World Cup in the year 2007. India defeated their arch-rival Pakistan in the final that year and won the inaugural T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni.

Read Also: India's performance in every T20 World Cup 

Since then, the Indian cricket team became runners-up in 2014 and then finally lifted the trophy again in 2024 under Rohit Sharma.

India's performance in every T20 World Cup

Year Results
2007 Champions
2009 Super 8
2010 Super 8
2012 Super 8
2014 Runner's up
2016 Semi-Final
2021 Super 12
2022 Semi-Final
2024 Champions

ICC World Test Championship (2019-2025):

India's performance in ICC tournaments - sportzpoint.com

ICC World Test Championship started in the year 2019 as New Zealand won the inaugural WTC after defeating India in the ICC World Test Championship 2021 Final.

India once again qualified for the Test Championship final in 2023 and this time, it was Australia who challenged them. India bottled their chance to win an ICC trophy after waiting for a decade and lost the match by a huge margin of 209 runs. 

In 2023-25 World Test Championship, India failed to qualify for the final.

India's performance in every WTC

WTC Championship Results
2019-21 Runners-up
2021-23 Runners-up
2023-25 Did not qualify for final
Next Article

Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments (men's)

India won their first 50-over ICC title in 12 years as they won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Men in Blue won their third ICC Champions Trophy title, and went past Australia’s tally of two. Here are the past winners of the last 10 ICC tournaments.

Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments (men's)

Indian men's cricket team finally won their first 50-over ICC title in 12 years as they defeated New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final by four wickets in Dubai. Here are the past winners of the last 10 ICC tournaments.

Read also: Every inaugural ICC tournament winners

1. T20 World Cup- West Indies (2016)

Remember the game: the last six balls of the 2016 T20 World Cup relived

Eden Gardens, Kolkata hosted the 2016 T20 World Cup on 3rd April between England and West Indies. West Indies defeated their opponent by 4 wickets and won the final with 2 balls remaining. Carols Braithwaite with four sixes in four balls to Ben Stokes became an overnight hero for the West Indies team. Marlon Samuels scored 85* off 66 balls and became the Man of the Match.

Read also: Virat Kohli records as captain in white ball Cricket

2. Champions Trophy- Pakistan (2017)

Most ICC Trophy wins by any team - sportzpoint.com

The Oval, London hosted one of the biggest cricket rivalries on 18 June 2017. The match was the 2017 Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan. Pakistan sent the Indian squad back to the pavilion in less than 31 overs and won the final by 180 runs. Fakhar Zaman won the man of the match award.

Read also: 5 Youngest Captains to lift the ICC Cricket World Cup

3. ICC World Cup- England (2019)

ICC World Cup 2019 - England - sportzpoint.com

The night of 14th July 2019 has to be one of the most interesting and different in cricket history. Both England and New Zealand scored the same during their innings and also in the super-over. The result of the match was decided in an interesting method; the team with the superior number of boundaries was the winner. Hence, England won the tournament.

Read also: WTC Final: ICC Event winners since 2000

4. World Test Championship- New Zealand (2021)

Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments - WTC 2021 - New Zealand - sportzpoint.com

Winning the World Test Championship has to be New Zealand's biggest victory in cricket history. Southampton hosted the final from 18 June to 23rd June 2021. Kane Williamson led the team to victory and the final test match by 8 wickets. With bowling figures of 5/31, 21 & 2/30, Kyle Jamieson was the Man of the match in the final.

Read also: T20 World Cup 2021: Man of the Series, highest wicket-taker, and highest run-getter

5. T20 World Cup- Australia (2021)

Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments - sportzpoint.com

Australia once again proved its dominance and worth on the night of the 2021 T20 World Cup final. The entire Australian team contributed their best and clinched the trophy last night to beat New Zealand by 8 wickets. David Warner chose the best platform to prove himself after a humiliating IPL season. Mitchell Marsh scored an unbelievable knock of 77* in 50 balls and won the Man of the Match award.

6. T20 World Cup - England (2022)

England won the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 - sportzpoint.com

England won their third ICC trophy as they clinched the T20 World Cup 2022 title after beating Pakistan in the final by five wickets. Sam Curran was adjudged the player of the tournament for his 13 wickets in the tournament. Curran was also the player of the final as his 3/22 helped England restrict Pakistan to 137 in the first inning. This was England's second T20 World Cup title.

7. World Test Championship - Australia (2023)

World Test Championship 2023 - sportzpoint.com

India again failed to win any ICC trophy since 2013 as Pat Cummins-led Australia defeated India by 209 runs. Australia scored a massive 469 in the first inning as Steve Smith and Travis Head scored tons for the Aussies. The first-inning score proved to be too much for India as they scored only 296 in the reply and Australia put more pressure with 270 in the second inning.

Despite starts for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, India failed to get close to the score and eventually suffered the defeat. 

With this win, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc became the only players to win all ICC Trophies. 

8. ICC World Cup - Australia (2023)

Two-time ODI World Cup winners - Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner, and Mitchell Marsh - strike a pose with the trophy, India vs Australia, Men's ODI World Cup final, Ahmedabad, November 19, 2023 - sportzpoint.com
Two-time ODI World Cup winners.

Pat Cummins and Australia's dream run continued as they won the ICC Men's World Cup for a record sixth time in 2023 defeating India, again. In one of the most visited and watched World Cup finals in Ahmedabad, Australia defeated India by six wickets.

Despite a great start with the bat, India lost captain Rohit Sharma and post that kept on losing wickets. They could only score 240 in the first inning and though Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami tried their level best, Travis Head's excellent ton (137) took Australia over the line. Head was player of the match in back-to-back ICC Finals. 

Read Also: India's Finals at ICC Men's Tournaments Since 2013 

9. T20 World Cup - India (2024)

India's performances in every T20 World Cup - India won the T20 World Cup 2024 - sportzpoint.com

India finally broke their jinx of ICC finals after beating South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final in Barbados. They clinched their second T20 World Cup title as Rohit Sharma's men defeated the Proteas team by seven runs in the final.

Read Also: Every Player of the Tournament winners in T20 World Cup History

Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47) played some solid knocks to take India to the highest total (176) in a T20 World Cup final. Though South Africa were cruising for an easy win, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arhsdeep Singh managed to pull things back for India with the ball. Virat Kohli was adjudged the player of the final and Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the tournament for his 15 wickets in the tournament. 

10. Champions Trophy - India (2025)

Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments (men's)

India made it back-to-back global cricket tournaments with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai.

Chasing 252 against the Blackcaps, India reached home in 49 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The spinners put up a splendid show, helping India restrict the Blakcaps for 251 for 7 after the side latter team won the toss and opted to bat first. 

Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 40) and Varun Chakravarthy (2 for 45) picked two wickets apiece while Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami scalped one wicket each. Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53) played crucial knocks for the Blackcaps. 

In the chase, India got off to a flying start, thanks to Rohit Sharma's dominating 76. Shreyas Iyer (48) and KL Rahul (34 not out) also played crucial knocks as India edged past New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy for the third time.

This was India’s second consecutive ICC title win - it had won the T20 World Cup crown in June last year. India has now won two ODI World Cups, two T20 World Cups and three Champions Trophy titles.

Note: The article was first written by Shreya Ghosh and then got updated by Koushik Biswas.

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Every results from India vs New Zealand match in ICC events

India and New Zealand have clashed twice in ICC Champions Trophy tournaments. Each team has won once, making their head-to-head record in the tournament evenly balanced. Let’s take a look at every results from India vs New Zealand match in ICC events.

Mar 7, 2025, 3:48 PM3 min read

Every results from India vs New Zealand match in ICC events

New Zealand has made it to the finals after defeating South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Now they will clash with India at the Dubai ground. 

India and New Zealand have so far clashed in the ICC Knockout Trophy, ODI World Cup 2019 semi-final and World Test Championship 2019-2021 final. Where the Indian team has had to face defeat every time.

However, the situation for India seems different in the Champions Trophy. Both teams are strong, so an interesting match can be witnessed.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India vs New Zealand match preview | Head-to-head stats, Possible XI, match prediction, streaming details

So, before these two teams once again share the field on Sunday, let’s take a look at every results from India vs New Zealand match in ICC events.

Results from India vs New Zealand match in ICC events

ODI World Cups

India and New Zealand have shared victories in their World Cup history, making this rivalry an exciting one.

In the early years, New Zealand had the upper hand, winning multiple encounters, but India bounced back in the late 1980s and early 2000s.

The 2019 semi-final remains one of the most memorable matches, where New Zealand eliminated India with an 18-run victory. Rain played a role in the 2019 group-stage match, which was abandoned.

India have performed well in some editions, but New Zealand have been more successful in knockout games.

Date Venue Winner Margin
14-Jun-75 Manchester New Zealand 4 wickets
13-Jun-79 Leeds New Zealand 8 wickets
14-Oct-87 Bengaluru India 16 runs
31-Oct-87 Nagpur India 9 wickets
12-Mar-92 Dunedin New Zealand 4 wickets
12-Jun-99 Nottingham New Zealand 5 wickets
14-Mar-03 Centurion India 7 wickets
13-Jun-19 Nottingham No Result Match abandoned
09-Jul-19 Manchester New Zealand 18 runs

Champions Trophy

India and New Zealand have clashed twice in ICC Champions Trophy tournaments. Each team has won once, making their head-to-head record in the tournament evenly balanced.

India and New Zealand faced off in a match on March 2, 2025, where India posted a total of 249/9 in 50 overs. In response, New Zealand was bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs, giving India a 44-run victory.

Their first encounter was in the 2000 edition, where New Zealand won by four wickets, securing their only Champions Trophy victory against India.

Date Venue Winner Margin
15-Oct-00 Nairobi New Zealand 4 wickets
04-Mar-25 Dubai India 44 runs

Also Read: Most ICC Finals as captain

T20 World Cups

New Zealand have been dominant over India in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounters, winning all three matches convincingly.

The first meeting in 2007 was closely contested, with New Zealand winning by just 10 runs. However, in later encounters, New Zealand won more comfortably, including a massive 47-run victory in 2016 and an eight-wicket win in 2021.

India have struggled against New Zealand’s bowling attack in T20 World Cup games, often failing to chase or post competitive totals.

Date Venue Winner Margin
16-Sep-07 Johannesburg New Zealand 10 runs
15-Mar-16 Nagpur New Zealand 47 runs
31-Oct-21 Dubai New Zealand 8 wickets
Next Article

"Use of saliva on ball," Mohammed Shami wants the ban to be lifted on applying saliva on the ball

The ban on the use of saliva on ball was first imposed in May 2020 as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in September 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent.

Mar 7, 2025, 12:36 PM3 min read

"Use of saliva on ball," Mohammed Shami wants the ban to be lifted on applying saliva on the ball

Indian bowler Mohammed Shami recently demanded the ICC to lift the ban on applying saliva on ball. Now former New Zealand bowler Tim Southee and former South African all-rounder Vernon Philander have supported Shami's demand.

Shami, while talking to reporters after Team India's 4-wicket win over Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy, had requested the ICC to lift the ban on the use of saliva on ball.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India vs New Zealand match preview | Head-to-head stats, Possible XI, match prediction, streaming details

Use of saliva on ball should be allowed to bring back reverse swing

"We are trying (to get reverse swing), but the usage of saliva on the ball is not allowed," Shami told reporters.

"We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting."

Southee and Philander backed Shami

Supporting Shami's statement, Southee said on ESPNcricinfo's Match Day, "That was a rule brought around Covid with the virus going around the world, but I think as a bowler, you want to have a slight advantage," 

"We see the game going the way it's going and seeing sides score 362 and more often than not over 300 in this format. I think there needs to be something in the bowlers' favour, and whether that's a little bit of saliva, then yeah, I don't see why they couldn't afford to get that back in."

At the same time, Philander said that in the second semi-final played against New Zealand, the South African bowlers could have benefited from applying saliva and using reverse swing, particularly in the later half of the innings. New Zealand amassed 362 for 6 in their 50 overs.

"If we look at the state of that ball, I mean towards the back end, it was really scuffed up, and I think had you used the saliva [to polish one side of the ball], the element of the reverse swing might have come into play," Philander said.

"So it certainly does play a part. You can get it to shine up and you use the elements to swing it a little longer."

Also Read: Most ICC Finals as captain

Use of saliva banned during COVID 19

The ban on the use of saliva on ball was first imposed in May 2020 as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in September 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent.

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