Cricket fans watching Sunday’s IPL double-header saw something new on the field—umpires checking the size of players’ bats mid-match.
It started during the game between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI), when the on-field umpire ran a bat gauge down MI captain Hardik Pandya’s blade. The check was to ensure the bat met league regulations, which limit the width to 4.25 inches (10.8 cm). Pandya’s bat passed.
This wasn’t a one-off. Earlier that day, during the Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) match, the bats of Phil Salt and Shimron Hetmyer were also inspected—and replaced.
Umpire checked Hardik Pandya bat before he came to bat today😭😭
— ` (@Sneha4kohli) April 13, 2025
Unreal Aura🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/tV1Pm0yNGm
So, what’s going on?
With run totals soaring this season—200-plus scores becoming routine—the league is taking no chances. Bigger bats mean more power, and the IPL wants to make sure no one’s getting an unfair edge. According to IPL rules, a bat must not exceed specific dimensions and should fit through a gauge used by umpires for checks.
Phil Salt, whose bat was checked in the earlier game, smashed 65 off 33 as RCB rolled past RR. Hetmyer didn’t fire, but he’s been in solid form lately.
Hardik, meanwhile, managed only 2 runs in MI’s match, but his team came out on top—just their second win of the season. The real fireworks came from Delhi’s Karun Nair, who blazed 89 off 40 balls as an impact sub, smashing even Jasprit Bumrah around the park. But once Karun fell in the 12th over, DC’s chase fell apart.
MI’s own impact player, leggie Karn Sharma, turned the match with three key wickets in the middle overs. In the end, DC were bowled out for 193—falling 12 runs short.
As bat sizes come under the spotlight, expect more checks as the season heats up. With teams regularly clearing 200, every little edge matters.
Read also: Rohit Sharma Sets Unwanted Record After Another Batting Flop vs DC
