After multiple 200+ scores and players using modified bats, the BCCI introduces strict in-game bat checks to ensure level playing field.
New Delhi, April 16, 2025 – If you’ve been wondering why IPL umpires have suddenly begun inspecting bats before players take guard, there’s now an official explanation. BCCI Secretary and IPL Governing Council chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed that mandatory bat gauge inspections are part of the Board’s new initiative to enforce strict compliance with ICC-standard bat dimensions.
The move comes amid rising concerns over unfair advantages with customised or oversized bats, particularly bulked-up sweet spots that deliver excessive power.
🏏 Why Are Bat Checks Being Enforced?
During matches like Rajasthan Royals vs RCB and KKR vs Punjab Kings, players including Shimron Hetmyer, Phil Salt, and Sunil Narine had to pass their bats through a bat gauge. In some cases, bats failed the test — most notably Narine’s — and players were asked to swap out their gear.
The issue? Players were allegedly modifying bats by “bulking up the lower portion” — the sweet spot — to maximize hitting power, particularly in shorter formats like the IPL.
🔍 What Are the New Rules?
- Opening batters: Checked by the fourth umpire before they walk out.
- Every other batter: Checked by on-field umpires at the crease.
- Previously, checks were done a day before the match, but players reportedly swapped bats on match day, creating loopholes.
“Nobody should feel that somebody’s got an undue advantage… the idea is to uphold the spirit of the game,” said Arun Dhumal.
📏 The Legal Bat Dimensions (ICC Standards)
- Width: Max 4.25 inches (10.8 cm)
- Depth: Max 2.64 inches (6.7 cm)
- Edges: Max 1.56 inches (4.0 cm)
- Handle: Max 52% of bat length
- Covering material: Max 0.04 inches
- Toe protection: Max 0.12 inches
- Must pass through official bat gauge smoothly
🚫 No Penalty — Yet Serious Repercussions Possible
Though IPL rules currently require players to only switch non-compliant bats, the precedent is severe. In 2023, Essex lost 12 County Championship points after an illegal bat was discovered mid-match.
Recently, Hardik Pandya and Anrich Nortje also had their bats tested, but no violations were reported.
This move from the BCCI is a preemptive measure to keep IPL credible in the era of massive scoring totals and power-packed finishes. And with technology-backed monitoring becoming the norm, cricketers may have to focus more on technique than tech-heavy gear to win the game.
Tags: IPL 2025, BCCI, bat checking IPL, Arun Dhumal, cricket equipment rules, IPL fair play, Sunil Narine bat, Hardik Pandya, bat gauge cricket, cricket bat regulations