During an IPL 2025 game in Jaipur, the umpires examined the bats of Shimron Hetmyer and Nitish Rana of the Rajasthan Royals and Phil Salt of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 47-ball 75 helped RR post 173-4 after Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to field at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Hetmyer came to bat when Jaiswal fell, at 126-3 after 16 overs.
Immediately after Hetmyer walked out, umpire Nitin Menon walked up to him and examined his bat, presumably to check whether its dimensions were as per regulations. When Hetmyer fell, Rana walked out to join Dhruv Jurel, and Menon checked his bat as well. And in the RCB innings, Menon’s colleague Saidharshan Kumar inspected Salt’s bat.
In all three cases, the batters were allowed to continue with their respective bats.
Match 28, Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
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Why were the umpires checking the bats?
Clause 5.7 of the IPL Playing conditions deals with bat size limits. It states: “The overall length of the bat, when the lower portion of the handle is inserted, shall not be more than 38 in/96.52 cm. The blade of the bat shall not exceed the following dimensions: Width 4.25in / 10.8 cm. Depth 2.64in / 6.7 cm. Edges: 1.56in / 4.0cm. Furthermore, it should also be able to pass through a bat gauge”.
What if the bat violates the restrictions?
Article 2.20 of the IPL Code of Conduct (Conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game) is “intended to cover all types of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct.”
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While subjective, the article adds that “by way of example” it may, “depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach” prohibit (among other things) “the use of an illegal bat or illegal wicket-keeping gloves.” If found guilty, the offender is liable to be charged with any of the four levels of offence.
A Level 4 offence may result in “The imposition of twelve (12) Suspension Points or a suspension for a fixed period of time ranging between, at a minimum, the lesser of the equivalent of twelve (12) Suspension Points and one (1) year, up to a maximum of a lifetime’s suspension.”
On Hindi coverage of the match, the commentators mentioned that umpires usually carry out bat checks pre-game, but with players these days using any one of 4-5 bats they own, the officials have been insturucted to check the bat when batters arrive at the crease, or request a change from the dugout.
Has anyone ever been penalised for an oversized bat?
Not in the IPL, but Feroze Khushi’s bat got stuck in the umpires’ gauge during the 2024 County Championship. His team Essex were docked 12 points. Josh Cobb was found guilty of the same, but Worcestershire were not penalised.
The most famous incident of an oversized bat came in 1771, when Thomas White of Chertsey walked out to bat against Hambledon with a bat as wide as the wicket. There was no penalty, but this led to the Laws of Cricket including bat dimensions in 1774.
