BCCI clarifies stance on IPL 2025 'bat check' row as instances of illegal bats increase

BCCI clarifies stance on IPL 2025 'bat check' row as instances of illegal bats increase

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tightens its "bat-check" policy, Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje of the Kolkata Knight Riders became the first two players to be excluded from using their first-choice bats. The KKR duo failed the gauge check during IPL 2025 match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. A few other batters' bats were also checked, but only Narine and Nortje failed the test.

IPL governor Arun Dhumal has broken his silence on the matter, asserting what the 'way forward' is going to be in the T20 league. The BCCI has implemented on-field tests this season, although bat checks have been in place for a while. As some players get ready to take the field, umpires show up at random to measure their bats. Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, once underwent a bat check on the field.

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"Nobody should feel that somebody's got an undue advantage. The BCCI and IPL have always taken all initiatives in this direction so that the fairness of the game is maintained. We have used technology to the maximum to make sure that all decisions can be reviewed so that the games don't get unfairly affected. The idea behind this initiative is to ensure that the spirit of the game is maintained," Dhumal told The Indian Express.

The balance between the bat and the ball has been the subject of much discussion as IPL scores have begun to surpass 200 runs more frequently. Bats that are too big have also become a problem. An international batter acknowledged the same.

"They bulk up the lower part of the bat since that is the area of the bat where the batsmen try to make contact with the ball. More wood around the 'sweet spot' and less wood close to the handle gives more power to strokes," an international batsman, aware of the problems, told the paper.