New Delhi: Umpires checking the bats in the middle of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches have become the talk of the town in the ongoing edition of the cash-rich league. For the first time in the history of the league, on-field umpires are checking the bats of cricketers randomly. The frequent sightings of the umpires checking the size of the bats are a clear indicator that this practice is set to become a norm in the Indian Premier League.
All the batters, before taking the strike, are undergoing the ‘bat gauge check’ through a piece of equipment that is in the possession of the umpires.
In a recent game between the Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Shimron Hetmyer and Phil Salt were stopped abruptly before taking strikes and had their bats checked. Both players were allowed to carry on after putting their bats through the gauge.
With several massive scores being posted since the start of the season, the board has decided to come up with a solution to ensure fair play.
BCCI’s ingenious method to ensure fair play
“Nobody should feel that somebody’s got an undue advantage. The BCCI and IPL have always taken all initiatives in this direction so that the fairness of the game is maintained. We have used technology to the maximum to make sure that all decisions can be reviewed so that the games don’t get unfairly affected. The idea behind this initiative is to ensure that the spirit of the game is maintained,” IPL governor Arun Dhumal told The Indian Express.
According to the guidelines, the bat’s width is limited to 4.25 inches (10.8 cm), with a maximum depth of 2.64 inches (6.7 cm) and hedges not exceeding 1.56 inches (4.0 cm). The handle must not exceed 52% of the bat’s total length. Covering materials are restricted to a thickness of 0.04 inches (0.1 cm), and any toe protection must be no thicker than 0.12 inches (0.3 cm). The bat must pass smoothly through the official bat gauge for it to be allowed to be in play.
The rules state that the bats of the two opening batters will be checked by the fourth umpire before they enter the ground, while the two on-field officials have to cross-examine other batters. Earlier, the bat check was used to happen on the eve of the match, but after several players returned the following day with different bats, the gap was discovered.
IPL 2025: With several massive scores being posted since the start of the season, the BCCI has come up with an ingenious solution to ensure fair play. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
