New Delhi: Kings XI Punjab may have kicked off Indian Premier League 2026 with a thrilling win, but captain Shreyas Iyer He found himself in trouble in the league for his slow over-rating against the Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.PBKS beat GT by three wickets in a nail-biting chase on the back of a superb debut performance from Cooper Connolly, who scored an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls. However, the win was followed by disciplinary action, with the IPL confirming that Iyer was fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate, the first such breach in IPL 2026.
Why was Shreyas Iyer fined?
According to an official statement from the IPL, the penalty falls under Article 2.22 of the Code of Conduct, which stipulates minimum excess violations. As this was Punjab’s first violation of the season, Iyer received a fine of Rs 12 lakh.“PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined for his team’s slow over-rate in match 4… As this was the first violation of rule 2.22 by his team, he has been fined INR 12 lakh,” the statement read.Captains are responsible for ensuring their teams complete their shifts within the allotted time, failure to do so will result in penalties including fines and possible suspension for repeat violations.
Connolly shines in tense PBKS victory
On the pitch, Punjab’s campaign got off to a buzzy start. Chasing 163, the home team looked to be in control, but a sudden collapse threatened to put the chase in jeopardy. Prasidh Krishna A three-wicket burst sparked panic, reducing Punjab from 110/2 to 118/6.However, Connolly kept his composure, stitched a crucial partnership and led the team home with five balls remaining. He was named player of the match for his calm knock.Reflecting on the tense end to the game, Iyer said: “These things happen in the IPL. You must remain calm. Cooper was there, cool and collected. “He also praised the young Australian, adding, “Cooper has a great mentality… some of the shots he bowled were surreal, especially against Rashid.”The next challenge awaitsPunjab will face next chennai super kings It will be held on April 3 at MA Chidambaram Stadium. The five-time champions, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, are eager to bounce back after losing to Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets.
