Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori had a cheeky take on the much-talked-about IPL 2025 bat size checks, saying he wishes such regulations existed when he was playing. Speaking to the media ahead of SRH¡¯s clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, Vettori made it clear he doesn¡¯t believe these new checks change much on the field.
This season, IPL umpires have begun inspecting bats with a gauge to ensure they conform to size limits. The aim? To stop the use of oversized willows, like in the recent case of KKR¡¯s Anrich Nortje, who had to swap out his bat mid-game. But Vettori isn¡¯t too bothered.
¡®I don¡¯t think it makes any difference,¡¯ he said. ¡®The guys are tested regularly. Umpires even check bats in the dressing room. It¡¯s quick, easy, and doesn¡¯t disrupt the game.¡¯
He added, ¡®It might reset anyone trying to push the limits, but it¡¯s not hard to get your bat through the gauge.¡¯
Vettori revealed that the topic hasn¡¯t sparked much discussion among his batters and dismissed the idea of smaller bats becoming the norm.?¡®The way bats have evolved ¨C bigger but not heavier ¨C is down to smart bat makers and batter demands,¡¯ he noted. ¡®Everyone loves sixes and fours. I doubt we¡¯ll see a size reduction anytime soon.¡¯
As for the MI match, Vettori said SRH will lean on Ishan Kishan¡¯s inside knowledge of his former franchise and home ground.?¡®He knows the surface, the dew factor, and the MI mindset. It would be silly not to use that insight,¡¯ Vettori said.
He admitted that while Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are vital, teams have done their homework on the pair.
¡®Oppositions have analysed their false shots, which led to some quick wickets. There¡¯s a bit of luck, good scouting, and smart planning involved,¡¯ Vettori said.?
At the toss, MI skipper Hardik Pandya chose to chase, citing the classic Wankhede dew factor. Both teams remain unchanged after wins in their last outings.