IPL bat checks have been revamped in the 2025 season to ensure fair play, following a rise in non-compliant bats. Umpires decided last week to test every batter’s bat before their innings, a move prompted by concerns over oversized blades. This shift aims to close loopholes and maintain the integrity of the tournament.
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New IPL Bat Check Protocol
The updated IPL bat checks require the fourth umpire to test openers’ bats before they step onto the field. For other batters, on-field umpires conduct the gauge test as they enter. Previously, bats were checked in the dressing room a day prior, allowing some players to swap bats on match day.
Reason for Stricter Bat Checks
A spike in defaulters this season triggered the change. Teams suspected opponents were using bats exceeding permitted dimensions, particularly at the blade’s thickest part. On April 14, 2025, during a Punjab Kings vs. Kolkata Knight Riders match, bats of Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje failed the gauge test, highlighting the issue.
Bat Dimension Rules
IPL regulations stipulate precise bat dimensions:
- Blade width: maximum 4.25 inches.
- Blade depth: maximum 2.64 inches.
- Edge thickness: maximum 1.56 inches.
- Handle length: not over 52% of the bat’s total length (except size 6 bats).
- Blade covering: maximum 0.1 cm thick.
- Toe protection: maximum 0.3 cm thick.
Bats must also pass through a standard gauge.
Team Response and Other Umpire Updates
Teams were notified of the new IPL bat check rules and have raised no objections. Meanwhile, umpires have been advised to be more lenient with player celebrations after criticism over penalizing Lucknow Super Giants’ Digvesh Rathi for his “notebook” gesture. Umpires’ roles have also been streamlined, removing tasks like checking front-foot no-balls or consulting captains on run-out appeals.