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Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a stage not just for thrilling cricket but also for innovations and surprises. One such surprising moment came during the clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025, when MI skipper Hardik Pandya’s bat was put under the spotlight—quite literally. The on-field umpire, in an unprecedented move mid-match, measured Pandya’s bat using a special gauge, drawing curious glances from fans and commentators alike.
Why Hardik Pandya’s bat was measured by the umpire?
Viewers were caught off guard when the umpire halted play briefly to run a bat gauge along the full length of Pandya’s willow. This wasn’t random. As per IPL 2025’s updated playing conditions, a bat cannot exceed 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) in width and must smoothly pass through the gauge at all points. The move is part of a broader crackdown to maintain fairness, especially with T20 cricket witnessing record-breaking run fest. Just earlier in the day, in the RR vs RCB clash, the bats of Phil Salt and Shimron Hetmyer were also been scrutinized, resulting in both players switching bats – raising eyebrows and murmurs about possible oversized edges.
Fortunately for Pandya, his bat passed the test. However, this signals the beginning of a more stringent approach by officials to ensure no batter gains an undue edge – literally or figuratively—by using equipment outside legal specs. With scores of 200+ becoming the new norm, the concern isn’t just about skill, but the tools of the trade potentially tipping the balance.
Umpire checked Hardik Pandya bat before he came to bat today😭😭
Unreal Aura🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/tV1Pm0yNGm— ` (@Sneha4kohli) April 13, 2025
Also READ: Fans react as Karun Nair’s explosive knock goes in vain; Karn Sharma lead MI to a thrilling win over DC in IPL 2025
MI edge past DC in a thrilling contest
While the bat-checking moment was brief, it sparked widespread discussions. Pandya’s own contribution with the bat was minimal—just 2 runs—but the incident overshadowed that, drawing focus to the equipment rather than the performance. Meanwhile, Karun Nair’s explosive 89 off 40 for DC and Karn Sharma’s clutch 3-wicket haul for MI were crucial moments in a closely contested match. In the end, DC fell short by a mere 12 runs, as MI were able to restrict them out for 193.
