Rahul Tewatia was forced to replace the bat after failing the gauge test. (Video frames) NEW DELHI: An unusual moment grabbed the headlines on Day 4 of the Indian Premier League 2026 when Rahul Tewatia was forced to replace his bat after failing the official gauge test during Gujarat Titans’ clash against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.The incident occurred in Gujarat’s penultimate innings when Tewatia came into bat after the dismissal of Washington Sundar. When he took guard, the field umpires stepped in, noted the size of his bat and subjected it to a gauge test — a standard procedure used to ensure bats meet prescribed dimensions.
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IPL 2026 should be an audition for India’s next T20I captain The umpires intervene, the bat fails the testThe bat didn’t pass the gauge, prompting immediate action. Tewatia was asked to change bats before facing a single serve, leading to a brief but dramatic break in play. The rule was introduced to prevent players from using excessive bats.With the spare bat in hand, Tewatia managed an unbeaten 11 off 10 balls, including a boundary, to help Gujarat to 162/6 in their 20 overs.WATCH: Tewatia’s bat fails the meter testGujarat lags behind despite fighting backDespite 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 was slightly below par with the bat.“Batting, it never looked like a 210-220 wicket. But I think 175-180 would be ideal,” Gill said after the match, adding that conditions had improved under the lights with a slightly wet ball aiding the batting game.Gill also credited Prasidh Krishna for sparking a late fightback with a three-wicket burst after being introduced in the 13th over. “He was rolling well in the nets and we felt he could change his pace on a slower surface,” he explained.
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The GT skipper also heaped praise on debutant Ashok Sharma, calling him a “good find” despite a tough outing.
