If you are watching IPL 2025, you might have noticed something odd, umpires are pulling out a strange tool and measuring bats on the field. This is actually part of a new rule introduced this season.
For the first time in IPL history, umpires have been asked to inspect bats right before a batter takes a strike. And this is happening right in front of everyone.
Why are bat sizes being checked during matches now?
Earlier, these checks used to happen quietly before matches in the dressing room. But officials worried that players might swap legal bats with illegal ones after the pre-match inspection.
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Since most players carry several bats on a matchday, it’s possible to sneak in a thicker or heavier one later. So, to stop that, umpires have been told to check the bat dimensions again, just before a batter gets ready. It is now a part of the live match routine.
Several big names have had their bats measured already. Hardik Pandya, Phil Salt, and Shimron Hetmyer have all passed the test. Sunil Narine’s bat did not fit the gauge. He had to switch to another one before his batting.
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IPL 2025 rules for bat size in IPL
The IPL follows the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines. Here are the main rules for a legal bat:
The width cannot be more than 4.25 inches (10.8 cm)
The depth of the blade must stay below 2.64 inches (6.7 cm)
The edge thickness cannot cross 1.56 inches (4 cm)
The bat should smoothly pass through a bat gauge.
If it doesn’t fit, the player must switch bats immediately.