Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: An unusual moment grabbed headlines on Day 4 of the Indian Premier League 2026 as Rahul Tewatia was forced to change his bat after it failed the official gauge test during Gujarat Titans’ clash against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.The incident occurred in the penultimate over of Gujarat’s innings when Tewatia walked in to bat following the dismissal of Washington Sundar. As he took guard, on-field umpires intervened, noticing the size of his bat and subjecting it to a gauge test — a standard procedure used to ensure bats comply with prescribed dimensions.Umpires intervene, bat fails testThe bat failed to pass through the gauge, prompting immediate action. Tewatia was asked to switch bats before facing a single delivery, leading to a brief but dramatic pause in play. The rule was introduced to prevent players from using oversized bats.With a replacement bat in hand, Tewatia managed an unbeaten 11 off 10 balls, including a boundary, helping Gujarat post 162/6 in their 20 overs.WATCH: Tewatia’s bat fails the gauge testGujarat fall short despite fightbackDespite a competitive total, the Shubman Gill-led side fell short as Punjab chased down the target in 19.1 overs in a tense finish. Gill later admitted that his team were slightly below par with the bat.“Batting, it never looked like a 210-220 wicket. But I think 175-180 would have been ideal,” Gill said after the match, adding that conditions improved under lights with a slightly wet ball aiding stroke play.Gill also credited Prasidh Krishna for sparking a late fightback with a three-wicket burst after being introduced in the 13th over. “He was bowling well in the nets, and we felt his pace could make a difference on a slowing surface,” he explained.The GT skipper also praised debutant Ashok Sharma, calling him a “good find” despite a challenging outing.
