Explained: Why the On-field umpires randomly check players’ bats during IPL 2025 games

The on-field umpires have started making random checks on the dimensions of the bats during the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This is done to prevent players from having an unfair advantage. It is a protocol to check the dimensions of the bat, but this procedure was done within the dressing room till the last season.

However, in a move to stay more careful during the power-hitting knocks, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given permissions to the match officials to check any piece of bat they wish to, even if it during a live match.A former BCCI umpire, who has worked in more than 100 IPL matches, and countless international matches, also expressed his surprise by this sudden allowance by the cricket board.“The umpires keep a house-shaped bat gauge.



If the bat passes through that gauge, it is deemed acceptable. We have all performed bat checks before the start of the innings inside the dressing room. The players handover their willows and the check is done,” a former umpire told PTI conditions of anonymity.

“Now the question is, did any player provide one bat for check and used another on the field? If that has happened, then this protocol is welcome. The players always carry multiple bats. While the weight can vary, the height, width (bat face), depth (middle of blade) and width of the edge has to be within specified limits prescribed by the ICC,” he added.

As per the specified dimensions, the width of a bat’s face can not be over 4.25 inches (10.79cm).

The thickness of the bat’s middle (bulged part) can not be more than 2.64 inches (6.7cm).

The maximum width of the edge should not be over 1.56 inch (4cm), and the height of the bat from top handle to the base can’t be more than 38 inches (96.4cm).

The post Explained: Why the On-field umpires randomly check players’ bats during IPL 2025 games appeared first on Cricket Country..