Legendary batter MS Dhoni created a buzz with an unusual moment during the recent IPL 2025 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The veteran CSK captain walked up to the umpire, took the bat gauge from him, and personally passed his bat through it.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Chennai Super Kings by just two runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 3. RCB posted a competitive total of 213/5 after losing the toss. The MS Dhoni-led team got off to a good start in the chase, but they finished with 211/5 in the nail-biting encounter.
MS Dhoni Takes Matters Into His Own Hands During Bat Inspection
The incident took place during the 17th over of the run chase. MS Dhoni came to the crease after the wicket of Dewald Brevis, who had been dismissed by Lungi Ngidi.
The on-field umpires initially measured Dhoni’s bat with the gauge, but it didn’t pass through smoothly. Dhoni took the gauge himself and adjusted his bat, scraping it through the tool twice. The umpire gave the go-ahead for him to continue batting, allowing the match to resume.
Dhoni smashed a six on the fifth ball of the penultimate over. However, he failed to help the team chase down 15 runs off the final over. The wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed on the third delivery. Dhoni, who scored 12 off 8 balls, took full responsibility, admitting that he could have done better.
What IPL Rules Say About Bat Inspections
According to the IPL Playing Conditions, a bat must pass the gauge test. The bat’s depth should be 2.68 inches, with a width of 4.33 inches and edge thickness of 1.61 inches. And, the curve of the bat must stay within 0.20 inches.
“According to the rules, the width of the bat face should not exceed 10.79cm, the thickness of the blade shouldn’t be more than 6.7cm, and the width of the edge of the bat cannot be more than 4cm. The length of the bat should not exceed 96.4cm,” the IPL guidelines state.
MS Dhoni’s Tactical Decisions During the Match Under Scrutiny
Chennai Super Kings are at the bottom of the points table, with just four points to their tally. MS Dhoni took over as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, and the team has only managed one win in six matches. They are on a four-match losing streak as the tournament nears its crucial phase.
Dhoni’s decisions during the match have faced criticism. Khaleel Ahmed, who had conceded 32 runs from his first two overs, was brought back into the attack during the 19th over. The move backfired as Khaleel gave away 33 runs in that over. He ended the match with figures of 0-65 from three overs.
Chennai Super Kings will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, May 7. The team will be looking to secure wins in their final matches of the tournament.