IPL 2023: Amit Mishra seen applying saliva on ball; gets Virat Kohli out in same over

Amit Mishra. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Veteran Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) leg-spinner Amit Mishra was seen applying saliva on the ball during the clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Notably, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the use of applying saliva to shine the ball in the wake of COVID-19.

However, in a surprising turn of events, the veteran leggie was caught on camera applying saliva during the 12th over of the first innings of the contest. The surprising act has garnered attention, considering that the apex cricket council has dismissed it; however, players are allowed to use sweat as a substitute.

In addition, it was in the third ball of the same over that he sent Virat Kohli back to the pavilion for 61 runs off 44 balls. However, this was not the first time the spinner was caught up in such an incident. In IPL 2021, he was warned by the on-field Virender Sharma for the same act and was told that his team could be imposed a five-run penalty if it repeated.

Kohli-du Plessis-Maxwell masterclass in vain

Speaking about the match, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis and flamboyant batter Kohli handed their side a terrific start in the first innings. Kohli amassed 61 runs with four maximums and as many boundaries, whereas Faf got 79 runs off 46 balls.

Maxwell, who came up the order, smashed a 29-ball 59 as he laced it with six maximums and three boundaries. Despite posting a daunting total of 212 runs, it was the ‘Pooran-Stoinis’ show that blew RCB away in their home ground at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran outrightly dominated the Royal Challengers and got 65 and 62 runs, respectively, to revive the chase after early breakthroughs. With momentum and luck tilting towards their favour, LSG won the thrilling affair following a last-ball goof-up by Dinesh Karthik and Harshal Patel.

The clash came right down to the wire, and it was KL Rahul’s Super Giants that headed back home with the two crucial points. LSG host Punjab Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Saturday, April 15, in their next assignment.