LSG bowler Amit Mishra caught applying saliva to the ball in IPL 2023 match vs RCB

ICC banned use of saliva on the ball in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra was caught on camera applying saliva on the ball during the recent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 10, 2023 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the 15th match of the IPL 2023.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) bowlers didn’t have a very good day in Chinnaswamy stadium as RCB batters had a field day. First Virat Kohli blazed in the powerplay, scoring 61 in 44 balls and adding 96 runs with Faf in 69 balls.

After his departure, Faf took over and with help of Glenn Maxwell, who made 59 in 29 balls with 6 sixes and 3 fours, took RCB to 212/2. The RCB captain remained unbeaten on 79 in 46 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes, one of which was a 115-meter monster hit out of the stadium.

Amit Mishra applies saliva on the ball, cameraperson catches it on the tape

Meanwhile, during the 12th over of the RCB innings, bowled by Amit Mishra, the veteran leggie was seen applying the saliva on the ball as he was bowling to Royal Challengers Bangalore's Virat Kohli. The 40-year-old was caught on camera using saliva on the ball, followed by sending a short delivery, which the former India captain guided to deep point for a single.

In the same over, Amit Mishra managed to dismiss Virat Kohli as he was caught by Marcus Stoinis while attempting a pull shot off a rank half-tracker.

As per rulings, the ICC has already banned the usage of saliva when COVID-19 began, including in IPL.

However, this is not the first time Amit Mishra has applied saliva to the ball since the ban. In IPL 2021, while representing Delhi Capitals, Mishra accidentally applied saliva on the ball before bowling his first delivery in the match.

This resulted in umpire Virender Sharma giving a first warning to DC captain Rishabh Pant.

Here is the video of Amit Mishra using saliva on the ball:

In 155 IPL fixtures, Mishra has scalped 168 wickets, including four four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul. He is also fourth in the all-time wicket-takers list in IPL history.