KKR’s explosive batter Sunil Narine was stopped at the boundary rope before his innings and asked to switch bats after failing the new IPL bat-size compliance test.
April 16, 2025: In a rare and unexpected scene during IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star Sunil Narine was stopped by umpires and forced to change his bat after it failed to pass the new BCCI-approved bat gauge test. The incident occurred right before Narine was set to bat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur on Tuesday.
The bat-check moment, caught on video, has gone viral and raised questions about whether Narine’s recent explosive form came from using a bat that was non-compliant with IPL rules.
🎥 The Viral Moment
As Narine stood ready to take the field, umpire Saiyed Khalid conducted the mandatory check. The bat was too thick to pass through the official bat gauge, prompting the West Indian all-rounder to have a brief, animated conversation with the reserve umpire before being handed a replacement.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Here’s Why BCCI Umpires Are Randomly Checking Bats
Even more surprisingly, KKR’s tailender Anrich Nortje also failed the bat check later in the match and was asked to switch his blade.
Glad Narine is getting pulled up at least while batting. pic.twitter.com/GziclyTc1x
— Sunil (@Hitting_Middle) April 16, 2025
✅ Angkrish Passes, Narine & Nortje Fail
Not all KKR players were in breach. Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi passed the test, adding to the embarrassment for the senior pros. Narine’s failure to comply with the equipment rules sparked a flood of memes and debates online, with some fans wondering if earlier big knocks were aided by the heavier bat.
🏏 What Are The Bat Size Rules?
Under BCCI’s IPL 2025 regulations:
- Maximum width of bat: 10.79 cm
- Maximum thickness of blade: 6.7 cm
- Edge thickness: up to 4 cm
- Total bat length: not to exceed 96.4 cm
These rules align with MCC guidelines and are enforced via the bat gauge—a physical slot the bat must slide through freely.
🎯 Why the Sudden Enforcement?
Following a rise in 200+ team totals and feedback from multiple franchises, the BCCI began conducting random bat checks both pre-match and on-field. In some cases, like Narine’s, the checks now happen at the boundary rope before the batter steps in.
Officials earlier used to check bats in the dressing rooms, but found that some players switched bats afterward, prompting the updated protocol.
⚠️ No Penalty, But Plenty of Heat
While there are no penalties for failing the bat check, players are not allowed to bat with a non-compliant bat. However, repeated violations or willful disregard of the rule could lead to fines or disciplinary action, BCCI officials have hinted.
Tags: Sunil Narine, KKR, IPL 2025, Bat Size Rules, IPL Bat Check, Anrich Nortje, Punjab Kings vs KKR, Cricket Controversy
Hashtags: #IPL2025 #SunilNarine #BatCheck #KKR #CricketControversy #PBKSVSKKR #IPLDrama