Indian might not use saliva to shine ball: Here's why
What's the story
Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar stated that India might limit the use of saliva to shine the ball in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. According to him, this could be a precautionary measure given the coronavirus outburst. The 30-year-old, however, revealed that the final decision on this matter will be taken by the team doctor during a meeting. Here is more.
Quote
Will be unable to shine the ball without saliva: Bhuvneshwar
"We have thought about not using saliva but I can't say right now because if we don't use saliva then how will we shine the ball. Then we will get hit and you people will say you are not bowling well," Bhuvneshwar said.
Precautions
As a team we have been cautious, says Bhuvneshwar
Bhuvneshwar asserted that the entire unit is cautious in the wake of the deadly virus that has resulted in more than 50 cases in the country. "It's a dangerous situation in India. But we are taking every possible precaution," he said. He added, "We have a team doctor. He is giving us instructions about dos and don'ts. So we hope it won't go further."
Fans
Players may keep some distance from the fans
The Indian pacer feels the team members should also avoid making any contact with the fans for a while. "We cannot avoid fans because they love us. In the meantime, we can try and not get too much closer to them. We can avoid as much as we can," he said. Earlier, Mark Boucher also hinted at the possibility of avoiding the customary handshakes.
First ODI
India and South Africa will lock horns at Dharamsala
The two teams will battle it out in the first ODI at Dharamsala on March 12. While the Indians will be gearing up for a comeback following the New Zealand tour, South Africa will look to extend their winning run in the ODI format. Lucknow and Kolkata will host the final two ODIs on March 15 and 18 respectively.