Star Gujarat Titans all-rounder Rahul Tewatia was part of a mid-game drama as he was stopped by the on-field umpires for an issue with the bat and was asked to change his bat before taking the field.
The
incident unfolded in the penultimate over after Tewatia walked in following Washington Sundar’s dismissal. Before he could take strike, the umpire halted play to check his bat gauge, a routine measure in international cricket that has also been in place in the IPL since last year.
Tewatia’s bat failed the gauge test, forcing the umpire to ask for a replacement before play could resume. The moment was later shared by broadcasters on social media, grabbing widespread attention.
Watch the video here:
Unexpected twist right in the middle of the game 👀
The umpires step in and stop Rahul Tewatia as his bat doesn’t meet the regulations! 😮#TATAIPL 2026 | #PBKSvGT | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/8O2J6XJtcm pic.twitter.com/txanPzNCPk
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 31, 2026
Since April 2025, IPL officials have been using bat gauges to ensure cricketers comply with size regulations. While no formal statement accompanied the move, it is understood to be aimed at preserving a fair balance between bat and ball by preventing oversized bats.
The regulation dates back to measures first introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2018. Under Law 5 of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s Laws of Cricket, bat dimensions are defined, edges can’t exceed 4 cm (1.56 inches), the overall depth is limited to 6.7 cm (2.64 inches) and the width must not go beyond 10.8 cm (4.25 inches).
Tewatia remained unbeaten on 11 off 10 balls, as the Gujarat Titans posted 162/6 batting first.
Pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak grabbed 3/34 for Punjab Kings.
After almost losing their way with the bat because of Prasidh Krishna’s (3/29 in 4 overs) excellent bowling, Punjab completed the chase of 163 with five deliveries to spare.
