Sunil Narine, the opener for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and fast bowler Anrich Nortje both failed the bat size test during their shocking defeat to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025 in Mullanpur on Tuesday, April 15.

Both Narine and Nortje were compelled to change bats before striking in the middle. The Kolkata Knight Riders pair is among the first to flunk the IPL 2025 bat size inspections.

While bat size checks were regular during prior IPL seasons, the BCCI implemented on-field inspections to increase vigilance. Because batters frequently carry many bats, it was not always certain that the bat carried onto the field had passed the obligatory inspection.

Sunil Narine's bat was discovered to be enormous before the start of KKR's chase, when the West Indies all-rounder gripped up to open the batting. He was standing next to Angkrish Raghuvanshi near the dugout when the bat size check was performed.

Reserve umpire Sayed Khalid evaluated Narine's bat. While Raghuvanshi's bat easily passed through the 'house-shaped' bat gauge, Narine's did not quite fit.

A video of umpire Sayed Khalid inspecting Narine and Raghuvanshi's bats with a gauge went viral on social media.

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Narine was ordered to replace his bat before going out to start the innings. Unfortunately for KKR, he scored only five runs before being dismissed by left-arm bowler Marco Jansen in the first over.

The on-field umpires scrutinized Anrich Nortje's bat when he stepped out to bat in the chase's 16th over. KKR were suffering at 95 for 9 when Nortje, making his debut for the team, stepped out with a bat that did not meet the legal size requirements.

He was requested to replace it, and broadcast video showed substitute fielder Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulling out a compliant bat when Nortje's original failed the gauge test.

According to the IPL rulebook: “The blade of the bat shall not exceed the following dimensions: width 4.25 in / 10.8 cm, depth 2.64 in / 6.7 cm, and edge 1.56 in / 4.0 cm. Furthermore, it must be able to fit through a bat gauge."

The umpires on the field checked the bats of various batters during the first two weeks of April, including Hardik Pandya, Phil Salt, and Shimron Hetmyer.

The lower part of the bat is regularly adjusted, with more heft added to the sweet spot, which is the place that makes the most contact with the ball.