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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batters had a forgettable outing in Mullanpur as they failed to chase down the target of 112 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). While KKR batters lacked composure and crumbled under pressure in the run chase, three of their batters -- Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Anrich Nortje - had to ask for a replacement bat as they failed the gauge test by the on-field umpires Mohit Krishnadas, Saidharshan Kumar.
KKR opener Narine's bat had to be replaced even before he stepped in to bat in the run chase. Russell walked in to bat in the 11th over and his bat failed the gauge test as well. Later in the innings, tailender Anrich Nortje suffered the same fate as his bat had to be changed as well.
As KKR were bowled out for 95 and PBKS defended the lowest total in IPL history, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn took a dig at the batters.
“Umpires have a new toy. Batters coming in with their 2nd choice bats…Check the scores… haha,” Steyn wrote on X.
What is the limit for the size of the bat?
As per the rules, the dimensions (maximum) of a bat eligible to wield for the batters are - depth 2.68 inches, width 4.33 inches, edges 1.61 inches. In addition the bulge on the other side of the bat should not exceed 0.20 inches.
Umpires won't let batters exploit loopholes
The umpires have been testing the bats randomly in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season and forcing batters to ask for a new one which fits the legal dimensions. In the previous season, the bats were tested as well but not during the match. So, the batters found a loophole and turned up with a different bat on the match day.
Rana, Sharma on bat-checks
Rajasthan Royals' batter Nitish Rana feels checking the size of the bat during the game is the right thing to do. He revealed that the umpires checked 60 to 70 per cent of batters' bats in the previous game.
"There is shortage of time in T20s, and if the umpires have the time to check the bat, I guess it is their right to do so - even my bat was checked," he said on the eve the clash against Delhi Capitals.
"In that game, bats of 60-70% batsmen was checked. It is fair enough, we don't have a say in that, it is not a controllable. The bats are made in the company that sponsors us, we don't have an issue with that. But if umpires want to check it for their satisfaction, we don't have a problem."
On a lighter note, DC's Mohit Sharma said that the batters should be banned if the bat does not fit the legal dimensions.
"That's really good, please check those bats. As it is we have been seeing such big sixes. If a bat or two are caught oversized then ban them also," Sharma said.
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