Watch: Jonty Sidhu caught hammering his bat after failing the 'Gauge Test' mid-match in DPL 2026

Central Delhi Kings batter Jonty Sidhu was involved in a bizarre incident during a Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 match after his bat failed the umpire's mandatory gauge test before he could take strike. The bat could not pass through the gauge, forcing Sidhu to find a quick solution without delaying the game.

Sidhu borrowed his batting partner's bat and used it to repeatedly tap the edges of his own bat in an attempt to reduce its width. After making the adjustments, he presented the bat for another inspection before continuing his innings. The unusual moment was caught on camera and quickly went viral on social media.

Despite the incident, Sidhu played a brilliant knock of 75 runs off 38 balls, smashing six sixes and five fours to guide Central Delhi Kings to a four-wicket victory over East Delhi Strikers. The viral video of Sidhu's bat-fixing trick has since sparked widespread discussion among cricket fans.

Watch the viral video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Delhi Premier League T20 (@delhipremierleaguet20)

Jonty Sidhu caught hammering his bat after failing the 'Gauge Test' in DPL 2026 match

Jonty Sidhu was involved in an unusual incident during a Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 match when the umpire checked his bat with a bat gauge before he took strike. A bat gauge is used to check whether a bat meets the legal size limits. If the bat passes through the gauge, it is considered legal. If it gets stuck, the bat does not meet the required dimensions.

Sidhu's bat failed the gauge test after it got stuck inside the measuring device. Instead of immediately changing his bat, he picked up another bat and used it to tap the edges of his own bat. He then presented the bat for another inspection, and this time it passed the gauge test.

See also -Delhi Premier League 2026 squads out: Full players list of all 8 teams after DPL auction

The unusual moment was caught on camera and quickly went viral on social media. Fans were surprised by Sidhu's quick fix, with many calling it a classic example of "desi jugaad." Despite the incident, the batter went on to continue his innings and remained one of the main talking points of the match.

What is the bat Gauge Test? Here's why Sidhu's bat was flagged mid-match

The bat gauge test is used to check whether a cricket bat meets the legal size limits set by the rules. Umpires use a triangle-shaped plastic gauge to measure the bat's width, depth, edge thickness, and curve. If the bat passes through the gauge, it is considered legal. If it gets stuck, it cannot be used until it meets the required dimensions.

During the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 match, Jonty Sidhu's bat failed the gauge test after it got stuck in the measuring device. Instead of replacing it, Sidhu used another bat to tap the edges of his own bat. He then presented it for another inspection, and this time it passed the test, allowing him to continue batting.

See also -How to watch Delhi Premier League 2026 on TV and online in India? Know complete details

Bat gauge checks are now a regular part of professional cricket to ensure that every player uses a bat within the permitted size limits. The incident quickly went viral, with fans and players reacting to Sidhu's unusual method of getting his bat approved during the match.

Fans draw comparisons to MS Dhoni's viral bat-hammering moment — What happens if a bat fails the Test

Jonty Sidhu's unusual way of fixing his bat quickly reminded many fans of a similar moment involving MS Dhoni. After the video went viral, several users on social media compared Sidhu's actions to Dhoni's bat-hammering incident, calling it another example of quick thinking on the cricket field.

If a bat fails the gauge test, it cannot be used until it meets the legal size limits. The player must either switch to another bat or make adjustments to the existing one before presenting it to the umpire for another inspection. Only after passing the test can the bat be used in the match.  Here is how the netizens rected:

Sidhu's bat passed the second inspection after he tapped its edges with another bat. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with many fans praising his quick fix, while others debated whether such adjustments should be allowed during a match.