Rohit Sharma was visibly frustrated after his bat was stopped for a mandatory on-field gauge test by match officials before Mumbai Indians (MI) began their chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (April 12).

The official struggled to pass the measuring gauge smoothly over the blade of the bat. This delay and the implication of an illegal bat annoyed the veteran opener, who argued that he had been using the same willow in previous matches.

Seeing the tense exchange, MI batter Tilak Varma stepped in to assist. After multiple attempts and adjustments, the bat finally passed through the gauge and was cleared for play. Tilak was later heard suggesting that the match official might have been holding the gauge at a wrong angle.

The IPL bat gauge test allows on-field umpires to randomly inspect bats during live play instead of restricting checks to the dressing room.

According to regulations, a cricket bat's width cannot exceed 4.25 inches (10.79 cm), with edge thickness limited to 1.56 inches (4 cm). The thickness of the middle of the blade cannot exceed 2.64 inches (6.7 cm), while the overall length must not go beyond 38 inches (96.52 cm).

The drama at the boundary rope capped off a stressful night for Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma's innings was cut short when he had to retire hurt on 19 runs due to a hamstring issue.

Despite a valiant unbeaten 71 off 31 balls from Sherfane Rutherford, MI fell 18 runs short of the 241-run target, slumping to their third consecutive defeat of the season.