
IPL 2025: Here's Why BCCI Umpires Are Randomly Checking Bats
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.
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.
“Nobody should feel that somebody’s got an undue advantage… the idea is to uphold the spirit of the game,” said Arun Dhumal.
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
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