IPL 2025: Sunil Narine's bat fails gauge test amid crackdown on oversized willows - Watch

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 16, 2025, 19:20 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

During the IPL match between KKR and PBKS, Sunil Narine's bat failed a live gauge test, highlighting the BCCI's crackdown on oversized bats. Anrich Nortje faced a similar issue later in the game. These mid-match checks, a new protocol, aim to prevent unfair advantages, with several players already scrutinised this season for bat dimensions exceeding ICC regulations.

IPL 2025: Sunil Narine's bat fails gauge test amid crackdown on oversized willows - Watch

Sunil Narine fails bat test in Mullanpur. (Video grabs)

NEW DELHI: In a dramatic moment during Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Indian Premier League 2025 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur, Sunil Narine's bat failed the official gauge test — highlighting the BCCI's recent clampdown on oversized bats during live IPL matches.
The incident occurred just before KKR began their unsuccessful chase of PBKS' modest 112-run target.
Also See: DC vs RR
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.

Reserve umpire Saiyed Khalid conducted random checks outside the playing area, where Narine and fellow KKR batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi stood together. While Raghuvanshi's bat passed the standard test, the thickest part of Narine's bat couldn't slide through the house-shaped gauge, violating ICC's prescribed bat size limits.
WATCH:

Despite the bat drama, Narine had a mixed outing — claiming 2 for 14 with the ball but managing just 5 runs with the bat. Raghuvanshi top-scored for KKR with 37 off 28, yet the team crumbled from 62 for 2 to 95 all out.
Who's that IPL player?
A second bat-related interruption came in the 16th over when Anrich Nortje was stopped by on-field umpires Mohit Krishnadas and Saidharshan Kumar. Nortje's bat also failed the gauge test, prompting substitute Rahmanullah Gurbaz to rush in with a replacement. However, the match ended before he could face a ball, as Andre Russell was dismissed immediately.

Poll

Do you support the BCCI's clampdown on oversized bats during IPL matches?

No, it disrupts the gameYes, it's necessary for fair play

These live checks mark a shift in BCCI protocol, with bat dimensions now scrutinised mid-match to prevent players from gaining illegal advantages through oversized blades. While previously done in dressing rooms, this season has seen on-field checks involving several players, including Shimron Hetmyer, Phil Salt, and Hardik Pandya.
The ICC allows a maximum bat face width of 10.79 cm, blade thickness of 6.7 cm, edge width of 4 cm, and overall length of 96.4 cm.

'I take the blame': Ajinkya Rahane after KKR's defeat to Punjab Kings

Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article