India, April 17 -- Earlier this week, Kolkata Knight Riders endured a humbling night against Punjab Kings, crumbling in a record-setting low chase of just 112 in IPL 2025. An unusual disruption was at the heart of the chaos- three KKR batters were forced to change their bats after failing a gauge test enforced under the IPL's new compliance rule.

As per the revised bat dimension regulations, any blade used must pass through a triangle-shaped plastic gauge, which measures width (4.33 inches), depth (2.68 inches), edge thickness (1.61 inches), and bulge curve (within 0.20 inches). Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje all saw their bats flagged and replaced during the innings, compounding the tension already simmering in the KKR d...