A strange and dramatic moment happened in the 7th match Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 between Chennai Super Kings and Kings of the Punjab At the MA Chidambaram Stadium, a costly umpire’s error brought the game to a brief halt. Young dough Ayush Mhatre found himself at the center of an unusual bat controversy before delivering a memorable innings.
Ayush Mhatre’s bat fails the measurement test twice as the umpire’s error creates confusion
The incident occurred when Mhatre was coming in to bat at number three after his dismissal Sanju Samson. As the youngster was about to take a wicket, on-field umpire Abhijit Bhattacharya stopped him, suspecting that his bat did not meet the permitted size guidelines.
Mhatre’s bat has been subjected to a measurement test, which checks whether the dimensions are within the legal limits. To everyone’s surprise, the bat failed the test. The confusion deepened when Mhatre called for a substitute batsman from the dugout, but that too seemed unsuccessful.
However, things took a strange turn when the umpire was found to be using the bat size incorrectly – holding it upside down. This error caused the bat to get stuck halfway through, giving the false impression that it exceeded the allowable thickness. After a brief discussion and Mhatre pointing out the issue, the judge adjusted his method. The bat was then tested and play resumed much to the relief of the CSK camp.
UMPIRE AYUS MHATRE TOOK TIME TO CHECK THE BAT #AyushMhatre #SanjuSamson #PBKS #CSK #PBKSvsCSK #ShreyasIyer pic.twitter.com/EJCgrDIVqD
— Somesh Jangra (@CelebrityGalax) April 3, 2026
Also READ: Fans celebrate as Prashant Veer makes his debut for CSK in the IPL 2026 clash against PBKS.
Mhatre responds with a dazzling knock
If the early break rattled Mhatre, he showed no signs of it once play resumed. The 18-year-old took a few deliveries to settle but soon shifted gears with confidence and skill.
After facing the first four balls with caution, Mhatre showed his attack by scoring 23 runs in his next ten overs. His intent and composure stood out, especially against a disciplined Punjab bowling unit. He put up a crucial partnership of 96 with the CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (28), stabilizes shots after early failure. Partnership was vital to building momentum on a surface that often required patience.
Mhatre’s knock became historic as he scored 73 off 43 balls studded with six fours and five sixes. With this effort, he became the youngest player to score a fifty in the IPL at Chepauk, surpassing his previous long-standing record. Suresh Raina. Young showed particular preference against pace, taking Arshdeep Singh for three consecutive boundaries. Marco Jansen for a lot of six. His fearless batting took CSK to the lead.
CSK capitalized on Mhatre’s brilliance to score 209/5 in 20 overs. Valuable contributions have arrived Shivam DubeyUnbeaten on 45 off 28 balls and Sarfaraz Khanwho added a quick fire 32 in just 12 deliveries. For Punjab Kings, Vijay Kumar Vishak He became the featured performer with 2/38 numbers Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett and Yuzvendra Chahal chopped with every keeper.
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