In a dramatic turn of events during the 31st match of IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings, KKR faced accusations of cheating after two of their players were found using illegal bats. The match, which took place on 15th April, saw KKR lose by 16 runs, but it was a post-match controversy that has captured attention.

The Bat Size Controversy

The issue arose when Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje were both found to be using bats that failed the official gauge test. During the match, as Narine and Quinton de Kock prepared to chase down Punjab Kings' modest total of 111 runs, reserve umpire Syed Khalid tested Narine’s bat before the innings. The bat failed the test as its thickest part did not pass through the gauge, leading to Narine being forced to switch to another bat.

Later in the 16th over, as Nortje was preparing to bat, on-field umpires Mohit Krishnadas and Saidarshan Kumar conducted a similar test and discovered that Nortje’s bat also failed the test. The game was halted briefly while Nortje switched to a new bat brought in by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. However, Nortje did not get the chance to use the new bat, as Andre Russell was soon called in to bat.

The Bat Rules

The issue of illegal bats revolves around strict regulations in cricket. According to the rules:

• The width of the bat's front part should not exceed 10.79 cm.
• The blade thickness should not exceed 6.7 cm.
• The width of the edge should not be more than 4 cm.
• The length of the bat should not exceed 96.4 cm.

The checks, which were previously done in the dressing room, are now more commonly performed on the field before the start of an innings, as seen in this case.

Is This Cheating?

While the incident has led to accusations of cheating, it is essential to note that the players themselves may not have intentionally used illegal bats. The bat inspections are standard procedures, and the failure of the test could simply be a result of equipment not meeting the required specifications. No formal charges have been brought against KKR for this issue.

KKR’s loss in this match, combined with the bat controversy, has raised questions about the team’s performance and adherence to the rules, but it appears that this was more of an unfortunate mishap than any deliberate attempt to cheat.