An unusual moment unfolded during Tuesday’s IPL clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur, when Anrich Nortje, coming in to bat at No. 11, was asked to switch his bat after it failed an on-field gauge test conducted by the umpires.
The bat Nortje carried didn’t meet the legal size requirements. The play was halted at the beginning of the 16th over as KKR’s substitute fielder Rahmanullah Gurbaz rushed in with alternate bats. Nortje's second bat passed the gauge test, but he never got to use it — Andre Russell was dismissed the very next ball, sealing PBKS’s historic low-score defence of 111.
The incident added to the growing spotlight on bat inspections in IPL 2025. Earlier, a video surfaced online appearing to show Sunil Narine’s bat also failing a similar on-field check just before the start of KKR's innings.
Is this the first time bat size checks are happening in cricket?
Until recently, such bat inspections were typically conducted behind the scenes in dressing rooms. But in a noticeable change, on-field umpire checks have now become more common, as seen in recent matches like Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Mumbai Indians (MI).
Standard limits of Bat size in IPL
As per IPL rules, a bat must adhere to strict size limits: a maximum width of the face of the bat of 10.79 cm, blade thickness of no more than 6.7 cm, an edge width under 4 cm, and a total length not exceeding 96.4 cm.
Tuesday’s game also marked Nortje’s return to action after a long injury layoff due to a back issue sustained during the SA20 league. He picked up 1 for 23 in his three-over spell.
Meanwhile, RR batter Nitish Rana, whose bat was also checked during the recent match against RCB, expressed no concerns over the process.
As bat specifications come under tighter scrutiny, players and franchises may need to pay closer attention to equipment compliance in this high-stakes tournament.
The bat Nortje carried didn’t meet the legal size requirements. The play was halted at the beginning of the 16th over as KKR’s substitute fielder Rahmanullah Gurbaz rushed in with alternate bats. Nortje's second bat passed the gauge test, but he never got to use it — Andre Russell was dismissed the very next ball, sealing PBKS’s historic low-score defence of 111.
The incident added to the growing spotlight on bat inspections in IPL 2025. Earlier, a video surfaced online appearing to show Sunil Narine’s bat also failing a similar on-field check just before the start of KKR's innings.
Is this the first time bat size checks are happening in cricket?
Until recently, such bat inspections were typically conducted behind the scenes in dressing rooms. But in a noticeable change, on-field umpire checks have now become more common, as seen in recent matches like Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Mumbai Indians (MI).
Standard limits of Bat size in IPL
As per IPL rules, a bat must adhere to strict size limits: a maximum width of the face of the bat of 10.79 cm, blade thickness of no more than 6.7 cm, an edge width under 4 cm, and a total length not exceeding 96.4 cm.
Tuesday’s game also marked Nortje’s return to action after a long injury layoff due to a back issue sustained during the SA20 league. He picked up 1 for 23 in his three-over spell.
Meanwhile, RR batter Nitish Rana, whose bat was also checked during the recent match against RCB, expressed no concerns over the process.
As bat specifications come under tighter scrutiny, players and franchises may need to pay closer attention to equipment compliance in this high-stakes tournament.
You may also like
Thibaut Courtois hits out at Real Madrid team-mates and makes Carlo Ancelotti feelings clear
Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death revealed after hidden health issues
Former SC judge Maheshwari appointed 23rd law panel chair
What happened between Trisha Goddard and Tiffany Pollard after tense clash
Declan Rice sends clear Champions League message to PSG after Arsenal knock out Real Madrid
