Kamal Ghorui
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.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 1.56 inches (4 cm), while the bulged middle portion cannot exceed 2.64 inches (6.7 cm). The full bat length must remain within 38 inches (96.4 cm).Once play got underway, Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a commanding 240/4, powered by blistering half-centuries from Phil Salt (78) and Rajat Patidar (53). Virat Kohli also contributed a composed 50 as RCB dominated the batting innings with aggressive strokeplay and a flurry of sixes.Mumbai Indians’ chase of the towering target never fully settled into rhythm. Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt on 19 off 13 balls after suffering a hamstring issue, halting MI’s momentum early in the innings. Sherfane Rutherford fought hard with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls, while Hardik Pandya (40) and Ryan Rickelton (37) provided early hope.However, MI eventually fell short, finishing on 222/5, losing by 18 runs in a high-scoring contest. The result marked their third consecutive defeat, while RCB continued their strong start to the season, climbing to six points and moving into third place on the points table behind Rajasthan Royals (8) and Punjab Kings (7).
