Rahul Tewatia was forced to change his bat after failing the gauge test. (Video grabs)

NEW DELHI: An unusual moment grabbed headlines on Day 4 of the Indian Premier League 2026 as Rahul Tewatia was forced to change his bat after it failed the official gauge test during Gujarat Titans’ clash against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.The incident occurred in the penultimate over of Gujarat’s innings when Tewatia walked in to bat following the dismissal of Washington Sundar. As he took guard, on-field umpires intervened, noticing the size of his bat and subjecting it to a gauge test — a standard procedure used to ensure bats comply with prescribed dimensions.Umpires intervene, bat fails testThe bat failed to pass through the gauge, prompting immediate action. Tewatia was asked to switch bats before facing a single delivery, leading to a brief but dramatic pause in play. The rule was introduced to prevent players from using oversized bats.With a replacement bat in hand, Tewatia managed an unbeaten 11 off 10 balls, including a boundary, helping Gujarat post 162/6 in their 20 overs.WATCH: Tewatia’s bat fails the gauge testGujarat fall short despite fightbackDespite 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 were slightly below par with the bat.“Batting, it never looked like a 210-220 wicket. But I think 175-180 would have been ideal,” Gill said after the match, adding that conditions improved under lights with a slightly wet ball aiding stroke play.Gill also credited Prasidh Krishna for sparking a late fightback with a three-wicket burst after being introduced in the 13th over. “He was bowling well in the nets, and we felt his pace could make a difference on a slowing surface,” he explained.The GT skipper also praised debutant Ashok Sharma, calling him a “good find” despite a challenging outing.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill admitted he could have introduced Prasidh Krishna earlier with the ball, after Punjab Kings chased down the target to win by three wickets in their first IPL match on Tuesday.“I could have got Prasidh on earlier, but we were in the game until the end, there will always be ifs and buts. But he came at the right time, took wickets and kept us in the game until the 17th and 18th over,” Gill said after the match.Punjab Kings were guided by Cooper Connolly, who scored 72 off 44 balls on debut, helping his side chase 163 with five balls remaining. Prabhsimran Singh made 37 off 24 balls, and the two added 76 runs for the second wicket.Earlier, Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 2/28 in four overs to control the middle phase, while Vijaykumar Vyshak took 3/34 as Gujarat Titans were held to 162/6.For Gujarat Titans, Gill scored 39 off 27 balls and Jos Buttler made 38 off 33.Punjab Kings had an early setback when Kagiso Rabada dismissed Priyansh Arya, with debutant Ashok Sharma taking the catch at midwicket.Connolly and Prabhsimran then put the innings back on track. Rashid Khan later dismissed Prabhsimran, who was caught at long-on.Shreyas Iyer hit two sixes off Ashok Kumar but was dismissed soon after, flicking a delivery from Prasidh Krishna to Washington Sundar at deep midwicket.Sundar also removed Nehal Wadhera, while Krishna took the wickets of Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession to bring Gujarat Titans back into the match.Krishna was brought into the attack in the 13th over when Punjab needed 53 runs from 48 balls, and he dismissed Iyer off his first delivery.Despite the wickets, Connolly stayed till the end, hitting five sixes and five fours to take Punjab Kings home.“I think we bowled pretty well, we didn’t get going in the last five or six overs (with the bat), it wasn’t a 200 wicket, but if we had 175 it would have been different, but we kept losing wickets and we couldn’t get going in the last five overs,” Gill added.

Jos Buttler (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Jos Buttler says the Indian Premier League has been the biggest influence on his career, with lessons and interactions from the tournament helping him deliver for England cricket team across formats. Now with the Gujarat Titans, Buttler highlighted how access to elite players and coaches has sharpened his game, pointing to interactions with Rahul Dravid and Matthew Hayden as key influences, especially against spin.“Absolutely. As I said, the IPL has been the biggest influence on my career. The lessons I’ve learned during IPL seasons, the interactions I’ve had, and the people I’ve worked with as coaches and players have all been invaluable,” he said during a media interaction. “Some of those conversations have helped me while playing for England in Test cricket, T20 cricket, and 50-over cricket. It’s had a huge impact. “As Kevin (Pietersen) was saying in his interview on my podcast, the opportunity to build a relationship with Rahul Dravid and work on playing spin creates chances that would otherwise be very limited. “Even now, after just a few days here, getting to talk to Matthew Hayden about batting — I probably wouldn’t get that opportunity otherwise. So it’s had the same impact on me as it did for KP,” Buttler said. Buttler has scored 4,120 runs in 121 IPL matches at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 149.38, including seven centuries. He was in superb touch in IPL 2025, making 538 runs in 13 innings at 59.8 and a strike rate of 163, forming a strong top order with Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan. GT, champions in 2022, open IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings on March 31 in New Chandigarh. Despite a lean ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, where he scored 87 runs in eight innings, Buttler said his mindset remains unchanged. “It’s no more or less important than any other IPL. No matter what’s happened before, I turn up looking forward to the season, wanting to contribute and play well. “The challenge is the same — prepare well, get into a good headspace, and give yourself the best chance to perform. Whether you’re in form or out of form, you need the energy to keep trying, keep preparing, and put yourself out there. “I come into every IPL excited, wanting to do well for the team. I just try to assess the situation and do what’s required on the day,” he said. On his World Cup struggles, Buttler admitted there was no single reason and said time away from the game helped him reset. “There’s a small circle of people I turn to for advice on what they’re seeing. I tried hard during the World Cup, but for a number of reasons, it just didn’t work out. “You have to accept that. It’s a game with elements you can’t control, and everyone is trying to perform. “At 35, I’ve had 15 years of highs and lows. You reflect and analyse, but there’s no one secret. If there was, everyone would score runs every time. “I’ve enjoyed some time away, reflected a bit, and the challenge remains the same — bring energy to practice, prepare well, and then start from zero on match day,” he explained. Buttler also praised uncapped pacer Ashok Sharma, whom he faced in the nets during his time with Rajasthan Royals. “He’s not just about pace. He has accuracy, a very good slower ball, and a big heart — qualities every fast bowler needs. He has all the attributes to be an exciting prospect.”

Sai Sudharsan (Image credit: GT/IPL)

The T20 game has evolved rapidly. With swashbuckling openers like Abhishek Sharma, young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya and others making an impact, the format has taken a more aggressive turn. Batters now often walk in with one clear intent — to hit the ball out of the park. However, for Sai Sudharsan, versatility remains more important than chasing high strike rates heading into IPL 2026.“I think it is important to have that versatility. It is important to look at it that way rather than just looking at just I want to improve my strike rate. Rather than that, I think I am looking to be more versatile.”