Rohit Sharma left frustrated as bat fails eligibility check before MI chase vs RCB
Mumbai Indians faced a daunting 241-run chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a pursuit hampered early by a bat inspection for Rohit Sharma. Despite a strong showing from RCB's Salt and Patidar, MI fell short by 18 runs, with Rohit retiring hurt. This loss marks MI's third consecutive defeat.
Rohit Sharma looked visibly frustrated even before Mumbai Indians began their massive 241-run chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium in IPL 2026 on Sunday, after his bat was stopped for a mandatory “gauge test” by BCCI match officials. The former MI captain was seen in a detailed exchange with the official, trying to convince him that there was nothing wrong with the bat. Even Tilak Varma stepped in during the discussion as the situation briefly became tense on the field.
After repeated checks, the bat was eventually cleared. Tilak was later heard suggesting that the official may have been holding the gauge the wrong way. — Mamtasulaniya (@Mamtasulaniya) The episode highlighted the stricter bat-checking protocol now in place in the IPL.
The “bat gauge test”, introduced more rigorously in IPL 2025, allows on-field umpires to randomly inspect bat dimensions during matches to ensure compliance. Earlier, these checks were limited to the dressing room, but from 2025 onwards, officials have been permitted to conduct them during live play. As per regulations, the bat face must not exceed 4.
25 inches (10. 79 cm) in width. The maximum edge thickness is capped at 1.