Ravindra Jadeja found himself in an unusual situation during the IPL 2025 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 25. The veteran all-rounder had to change his bat even before facing a single delivery, after it failed to pass the official gauge test conducted by the on-field umpires.
As per ICC regulations, every bat used in the game must comply with strict dimensional standards: a maximum edge thickness of 4cm, a depth limit of 6.7cm, and a width not exceeding 10.8cm. When Jadeja’s bat was tested using the standard gauge — a tool umpires use to check if the bat conforms to legal specifications — it failed to pass through, indicating that it exceeded the permitted measurements.
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As a result, Jadeja was asked to switch bats immediately before continuing his innings. This isn’t the first time bat checks have caused disruptions in IPL 2025.
— crictalk (@crictalk7) April 25, 2025
Earlier in the season, during a match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, three players — Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje — also had to swap their bats for similar reasons. With growing concerns over an imbalance between bat and ball, the umpires have reportedly been instructed to enforce these rules strictly to prevent batters from gaining an undue edge.
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Meanwhile, CSK’s troubles didn’t end with the bat issue. They had a shaky start after being put into bat by SRH captain Pat Cummins. Mohammed Shami, opening the bowling for Hyderabad, dismissed young opener Shaik Rasheed on the very first ball of the match with a peach of a delivery. As the innings progressed, CSK found themselves under pressure early in a crucial game, with both teams vying to escape the lower half of the points table.
