Dale Steyn labels IPL's new bat check rule as 'umpires new toy', points it as reason behind spike in low scores

Umpires check the bat during an IPL 2025 encounter (BCCI Photo)

Kolkata Knight Riders were humbled by the Punjab Kings earlier this week, which saw them fail in a paltry 112-run chase. The center of the pandemonium was an unusual disruption: three KKR batters were made to switch bats after failing a gauge test that was enforced by the IPL's new compliance rule.

Any blade must pass through a triangle-shaped plastic gauge that measures width (4.33 inches), depth (2.68 inches), edge thickness (1.61 inches), and bulging curve (within 0.20 inches) in accordance with the updated bat dimension rules. The tension that was already building in the KKR dugout was exacerbated when Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje all had their bats flagged and replaced during the innings.

“Umpires have a new toy. Batters coming in with their 2nd choice bats… Check the scores… haha,” quipped Dale Steyn on X, suggesting that the tournament's scoring results might have been slightly impacted by the bat alteration.

Umpires have a new toy.Batters coming in with their 2nd choice batsCheck the scores haha
Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) April 15, 2025

Despite first appearing insignificant, the disturbances occurred at the same time as one of the most puzzling collapses in IPL history. With KKR bowled out for 95 Punjab won by an incredible 16 runs, the lowest total ever defended in the IPL.

When Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37 off 28) and Ajinkya Rahane (17 off 17) combined for 55 for the third wicket, bringing the team to 62/2, there were brief moments of stability in the innings. The match looked all but sealed with eight wickets remaining and just 50 runs needed from 74 balls.

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But then there came a catastrophic collapse. KKR fell to 79/8 and folded in 16 overs after losing six wickets for just 17 runs.

“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,” said former South Africa coach Mark Boucher on Star Sports following the match. “They came out being quite tentative… I just don’t think the batters that came in were batting at the intensity that they needed to.”