In a rare and surprising moment during the IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings, star all-rounder Sunil Narine and teammate Anrich Nortje were forced to switch their bats after failing a new on-field bat gauge test. This new rule, aimed at ensuring fair play, caught the attention of players, commentators, and fans alike.

What Is the Bat Gauge Test?

The bat gauge is a triangle-shaped plastic tool introduced this season to check whether bats meet legal size standards. It checks four key bat dimensions:

• Depth: Must be within 2.68 inches

• Width: Must be under 4.33 inches

• Edges: No more than 1.61 inches

• Curve (Bulge): Cannot exceed 0.20 inches

While bat checks were previously done before matchday, this new system now allows umpires to test bats during the game, closing the loophole where players could switch bats after pre-match inspections.

Narine’s Bat Fails Just Before Innings Start

Sunil Narine, who was set to open the innings, had his bat checked just beyond the boundary line before stepping out to bat. Fourth umpire Saiyed Khalid was seen using the gauge on Narine’s bat, but it couldn’t pass through due to its thickness. After multiple attempts, the bat was deemed illegal, and Narine was asked to switch it out. His teammate Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s bat, however, passed the test without issue.

Anrich Nortje’s Bat Fails Too—Even Though He’s a Bowler

Later in the game, fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who rarely bats, also saw his bat fail the test when he walked out as KKR’s No. 11. This caused a notable delay as Rahmanullah Gurbaz had to run in with a legal replacement. Interestingly, Nortje didn’t get a chance to face a ball—Andre Russell was dismissed on the very next delivery, and Punjab Kings won the low-scoring thriller.

Not the First Incident This Season

This wasn’t the first time bats were checked on live broadcast. Recently, players like Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya, and Shimron Hetmyer all underwent bat inspections, though their equipment passed. Commentators Simon Doull and Varun Aaron had a laugh about Nortje’s bat being too big, joking about how even bowlers are now pushing bat limits.

IPL Chairman Explains the New Rule

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal backed the new system, saying,

“Nobody should feel that somebody’s got an undue advantage. The idea behind this initiative is to ensure the spirit of the game is maintained.”

Conclusion

Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje’s bat-check failures have added a new layer of discussion in the IPL 2025 season. As technology and stricter checks come into play, the league continues to evolve in its pursuit of fairness and balance between bat and ball.

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