Have you ever seen players’ bats being checked in the middle of the field before IPL 2025? Probably not. But in 2025, the BCCI has, for the first time, instructed umpires to regularly check the size of bats during matches. This practice has been implemented from the start of IPL 2025.
Checking bat sizes is not a new thing. Earlier, players used to submit their bats to umpires for inspection either before the match or during the match, usually inside the dressing room. It wasn’t something done in public view. But now, to ensure more transparency, umpires have been asked to check the bat size on the field itself.
The on-field umpire uses a measuring device to inspect the bats of players coming out to bat, even before they take guard. Only after the bat passes the check, the player is allowed to continue.
In the first two weeks of April, players like Hardik Pandya, Phil Salt, and Shimron Hetmyer had their bats checked during the match. In fact, it’s not just them—every player’s bat is being measured using a scale that umpires carry.
The BCCI has clearly stated that the size of bats must not exceed the limits set in the official IPL rulebook. The rules specify that the bat width should not exceed 4.25 inches, the depth should be 2.64 inches (or 6.7 cm), and the edge should be 1.56 inches (or 4 cm). The bat must fit into the umpire’s measuring gauge. If it doesn’t, the player cannot use that bat in the match.
Why was this change in the checking process made?
A former umpire stated, “We always checked bats inside the dressing room before the innings began. Players often exchanged bats inside the dressing room, and the checks were completed there. Now, the question arises—what if a player gets one bat checked but uses another while batting? If that’s happening, then the new rule makes sense.”
Players generally carry multiple bats with different weights, but the width, depth, and edge must always conform to ICC regulations.
According to reports, some players had previously been found using oversized bats beyond the allowed dimensions. They were warned. But now, BCCI has implemented strict on-field bat checks, and all are required to follow the rule rigidly.
IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal stated that this new checking procedure has been introduced to uphold the spirit of the game.
