Bat checks are suddenly the new normal in IPL 2025 — and not everyone’s loving it. During Rajasthan Royals’ match against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday in Delhi, Riyan Parag’s bat was inspected not once, but twice by on-field umpires.
What really got fans talking, though, was coach Rahul Dravid’s cold, stone-faced reaction from the dugout. The camera caught him glaring toward the field, expression unreadable but clearly unimpressed. And the clip? Instantly viral.
The umpires are doing their job and #RiyanParag’s bat is under scrutiny! 🧐
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 16, 2025
Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/nbBEFOkjkM #IPLonJioStar 👉 #DCvRR | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/o68pxrSrje
“Know what he’s probably telling the umpire?” joked one commentator. “‘You already checked my bat in the dressing room — why again now?’”
Dravid didn’t say a word publicly, but his look said plenty.
This season, bat gauges have become part of the routine. Umpires are checking the width of players’ bats before they step onto the field — something rarely seen in earlier IPL editions. It’s all about making sure no one sneaks in an oversized bat.
So far, a couple of Kolkata Knight Riders players — Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje — have failed the bat test. Their bats didn’t fit through the official gauge used to keep the game fair.
But not everyone sees this as a big deal.
Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori, speaking at a press conference on the same day, shrugged it off.
“I wish they’d done this back when I was playing,” he said with a grin. “But really, it doesn’t matter much. Players know the rules. Umpires already check bats in the dressing room. It’s just a quick pass-through on the field.”
Vettori added that no SRH players have raised concerns. As far as he’s concerned, the trend of bigger bats is just part of the game’s evolution.
“Bat makers have figured out how to make them lighter and still powerful,” he said. “Fans love the big shots — sixes, fours — so I don’t see bat sizes shrinking anytime soon.”
So, for now, the checks continue. And Dravid’s death stare? It might just become the new meme of the season.
Read Also: ‘Be Selfish!’: Rahane Blasted After Skipping DRS in KKR Defeat
