Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje caught fooling BCCI in broad daylight!! Ban Incoming?

Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje's bats were rejected by the umpires during the IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Both KKR players were forced to use alternative equipment after their bats did not pass the required inspection in Mullanpur on Tuesday, April 15.

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To avoid any discrepancies, on-field umpires and the fourth umpire have been instructed to inspect bats during both practice sessions and matches.

Bat inspections were previously carried out outside of the match, but these checks have increased since the beginning of the ongoing T20 tournament.

Watch: Umpires Reject Bats of Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje

In a viral clip on social media, Sunil Narine and Angkrish Raghuvanshi's bats were checked by officials just before the second innings.

Raghuvanshi's bat passed the test, but Sunil Narine’s failed as the gauge didn’t pass entirely. Sunil Narine was dismissed cheaply for five runs by Marco Jansen in the first over.

Anrich Nortje came in to bat at No. 11 with KKR struggling at 95-9. Play was delayed as Rahmanullah Gurbaz brought out replacement bats for Nortje.

Play resumed once the replacement bat passed the check, but Nortje didn’t get a chance to use it, as Andre Russell was dismissed off the very first ball.

Sunil Narine bat doesn't pass umpire's check#IPL2025
pic.twitter.com/d2VISP3gnd

— Zsports (@_Zsports) April 16, 2025

Punjab Kings Clinch 16-Run Win Over Kolkata Knight Riders

Punjab Kings secured a 16-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the 31st match of IPL 2025 on April 15 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. PBKS moved up to fourth in the points table after their fourth win in six matches.

PBKS, batting first, were bowled out for just 111 in 15.3 overs on a challenging pitch. Priyansh Arya (22), Prabhsimran Singh (30), and Shashank Singh (18) made starts but failed to convert, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled.

Harshit Rana was the pick of the bowlers for KKR, picking up three wickets. However, PBKS's bowlers, led by Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28) and Marco Jansen (3/17), bowled KKR out for 95 in 15.1 overs.

What IPL Rules Say About Bat Inspections

The recent bat inspection checks in the IPL are expected to continue, especially after two breaches were found in a single innings.

The new initiative has surprised some players, but it has received praise from bowlers and experts alike.

"According to the rules, the width of the bat face should not exceed 10.79cm, the thickness of the blade shouldn't be more than 6.7cm, and the width of the edge of the bat cannot be more than 4cm. The length of the bat should not exceed 96.4cm," the IPL guidelines state (via ESPN Cricinfo).

"It is fair enough, we don't have a say in that, it is not controllable. The bats are made by the company that sponsors us. But if umpires want to check it for their satisfaction, we don't have a problem," RR batter Nitish Rana said ahead of their IPL 2025 match against DC.

Also read: Watch: Marco Jansen destroys Sunil Narine's stumps in first over during PBKS vs KKR clash