Nortje's bat fails on-field compliance check during KKR's defeat to Punjab Kings

Anrich Nortje was asked to switch his bat after walking in as Kolkata Knight Riders' No. 11 during their run chase against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on Tuesday. According to TV commentators, the bat he initially carried failed the on-field gauge test conducted by the umpires.

Interestingly, a separate video has surfaced on social media showing Sunil Narine’s bat also appearing to fail a similar check before the innings began.

The incident involving Nortje occurred at the start of the 16th over. Play was briefly halted as substitute Rahmanullah Gurbaz came onto the field with replacement bats. One of those passed the test, but Nortje never got a chance to use it—Andre Russell was bowled on the next delivery, sealing Punjab Kings’ record-breaking lowest successful defence in IPL history.

Previously, bat size checks were typically carried out off the field, inside the dressing rooms. However, this season has seen umpires conducting these checks directly on the field, including during Sunday’s matches between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Delhi Capitals versus Mumbai Indians.

As per regulations, a bat’s face cannot exceed 10.79cm in width, the blade must be no thicker than 6.7cm, and the edge cannot exceed 4cm in width. The maximum allowed length is 96.4cm.

This was Nortje’s first appearance in IPL 2025, marking his return from a back injury sustained during the SA20. He bowled three overs, returning 1 for 23.

Addressing the increased frequency of bat checks, Rajasthan Royals batter Nitish Rana commented ahead of their match against Delhi Capitals:
“There’s limited time in T20s, and if umpires have the opportunity to check bats, it’s their right. Even my bat was checked. In that match, 60–70% of bats were checked. It’s not in our control, and we’re fine with it. Our bats are made by sponsors, so it’s up to the umpires to be satisfied with what we use.”

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