Due to Coronavirus scare, Indian bowlers might limit the usage of saliva to shine the ball: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

At a time when the people across the world are taking a lot of precautions to protect themselves, from Coronavirus, even the cricketers are trying their best to stay away from any potential contaminant that might get them in contact with the virus. Putting one such precaution that could be taken by the Indian team’s bowling unit, was the team’s veteran pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Other teams such as South Africa have been announcing potential actions that they might undertake in order to avoid any contaminating contact. For example, the Proteas’ coach, Mark Boucher recently spoke about how the South African team might avoid handshakes during the Indian series.

Indian bowlers might not use spit on the ball, says Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar came out and said in the pre-match presser, “Due to Coronavirus scare, Indian bowlers might limit the usage of saliva to shine the ball.” The bowlers who generally take spit from their mouth and rub it on the ball to polish it can get exposed to the virus. It could make a direct entry into their bodies through their mouth when it comes in contact with their hands.

The practice of rubbing the ball with spit has been going on for years, but it might have to be stopped for some time as a precautionary measure against the pandemic that is spreading at a rapid rate.

Team India is set to take on South Africa for a three-match One Day International series starting from the 12th of March and Bhuvneshwar is among the few other players, who are making a return into the Indian team after an injury. The team will be playing its first match at Dharamshala on the 12th, followed by matches in Lucknow and Kolkata on the 15th and 18th of March.

Given the number of people that flock to the stadium to watch their favourite players play, it is hard to point out, who might be carrying that virus within him/her as it takes some time for its symptoms to surface. So, it is nothing but natural for the players to go for such measures than being exposed to a potentially deadly disease.