Bat-checking protocol raises eyebrows after multiple players fail compliance test
The 2025 IPL season has featured a noticeable number of low-scoring matches—and a new rule might be part of the reason, according to several cricket voices.
Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recently suggested that the league’s bat-checking protocol could be affecting performance.
“Umpires have a new toy. Batters coming in with their 2nd choice bats… Check the scores… haha,” Steyn posted on X (formerly Twitter), hinting that the rule may be forcing players to use unfamiliar or less powerful bats.
The new bat gauge: what it checks
The rule, introduced this season, requires players’ bats to pass through a triangle-shaped gauge with the following legal dimensions:
- Maximum depth: 2.68 inches
- Maximum width: 4.33 inches
- Maximum edge: 1.61 inches
- Maximum curve (bulge): 0.20 inches
The regulation has already led to in-game changes. In a recent match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, three KKR players—Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje—failed the test and had to swap bats before play.
Boucher questions KKR’s approach
Following that match, former South Africa wicketkeeper and current coach Mark Boucher criticized Kolkata’s batting display after they failed to chase a modest total of 112.
“It’s not like a 140 or 150, and it’s not like a 60-run target. It was a total that was always gonna be awkward. It’s a total that as a batting team, you’re expected to go out and get it,” Boucher said on Star Sports. “I just think that they batted themselves into a bit of a hole.”
He added: “They got off to a decent start after the two wickets and then they came out being quite tentative. Which is quite strange, from a team that’s just come off on the back of a win. So yeah, I just don’t think that the batters that came in were batting at the intensity that they needed to.”
Impact on scoring under scrutiny
With stricter equipment enforcement now in place, some analysts are wondering if the new rule is contributing to reduced strike rates and more conservative batting. While the protocol is designed to ensure fairness and standardization, its impact on performance is becoming a talking point across the league.
As the season progresses, the bat gauge and its role in IPL 2025 could continue to draw attention—from players, coaches, and fans alike.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
