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

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.

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.