Watch: Sunil Narine's bat fails size test during KKR's shock loss to PBKS

Kolkata Knight Riders opener Sunil Narine and fast bowler Anrich Nortje failed the bat size test during their shock defeat to Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on Tuesday, April 15. Both Narine and Nortje were required to change their bats before taking strike in the middle. The Kolkata Knight Riders pair are among the first players to fail the bat size checks in IPL 2025.

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While bat size checks were common practice in previous IPL seasons, the BCCI introduced on-field inspections to ensure greater vigilance. As batters often carry multiple bats, it was not always guaranteed that the bat brought onto the field was the one that had passed the mandatory check.

Sunil Narine's bat was found to be oversized before the start of KKR's chase, when the West Indies all-rounder was gtearing up to open the innings. He was standing alongside Angkrish Raghuvanshi near the dug-out when the bat size check took place. Narine's bat was inspected by reserve umpire Sayed Khalid. While Raghuvanshi's bat passed through the 'house-shaped' bat gauge without issue, Narine's did not fit entirely through the frame.

A video of umpire Sayed Khalid checking Narine and Raghuvanshi's bats with the gauge went viral on social media.

Glad Narine is getting pulled up at least while batting. pic.twitter.com/GziclyTc1x— Sunil (@Hitting_Middle) April 16, 2025

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Narine was asked to change his bat before heading out to open the innings. Unfortunately for KKR, he managed just 5 runs before being bowled by left-arm pacer Marco Jansen in the very first over.

Anrich Nortje's bat was inspected on the field by the on-field umpires after he walked out to bat in the 16th over of the chase. KKR were struggling at 95 for 9 when Nortje, making his debut for the side, came out with a bat that failed the mandatory size check. He was asked to replace it, and television footage showed substitute fielder Rahmanullah Gurbaz bringing out a compliant bat after Nortje's original one failed the gauge test.

However, Nortje did not get the opportunity to use the new bat, as he was left stranded at the non-striker's end when KKR's final wicket - Andre Russell - fell on the first ball of the 16th over.

In a dramatic collapse, KKR were bowled out for just 95 runs, as Punjab Kings set a new record for the lowest total successfully defended in an IPL match.

During the first two weeks of April, several batters-including Hardik Pandya, Phil Salt, and Shimron Hetmyer -- had their bats checked by the umpires on the field.

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The lower end of the bat is often modified, with additional mass added to the sweet spot - the area that most frequently makes contact with the ball.

According to the IPL rulebook: "The blade of the bat must not exceed the following dimensions - Width: 4.25 in / 10.8 cm, Depth: 2.64 in / 6.7 cm, Edge: 1.56 in / 4.0 cm. Moreover, it must be able to pass through a bat gauge."

Notably, Rajasthan Royals batter Nitish Rana commented on Tuesday that players are open to having their bats inspected and pointed out that most use equipment supplied directly by manufacturers.

"There's limited time in T20 cricket, but if the umpires have time to check the bats, then I believe they're within their rights to do so. Not just Hetty's (Shimron Hetmyer's), but my bat was checked too. Almost 60 to 70 per cent of the batters had their bats inspected. We have no control over it - the bats we use come straight from sponsors or manufacturers, so if the officials want to check them, we've got no issues," he said.

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