Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer has been handed a fine for his team’s slow over-rate during their recent match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. The match, which saw PBKS clinch a four-wicket win, drew attention due to this breach of conduct.
The penalty for Iyer stands at INR 12 lakh, marking PBKS’s first over-rate violation in the IPL 2025 under the tournament’s regulations. Consequently, PBKS was required to position an extra fielder inside the circle before the 19th over began. Despite this, Yuzvendra Chahal shone brightly, taking four wickets in a single over, including a remarkable hat-trick – his second in the IPL.
Opting to field, PBKS’s bowlers faced a challenging spell as CSK’s Sam Curran delivered a blistering 47-ball 88, pushing his team to a promising 177 for 5 after 18 overs. CSK seemed poised to surpass 200 runs, but Chahal’s spell turned the tide, with CSK collapsing to 190 all out in just 19.2 overs, losing their last five wickets for a mere six runs.
Setting the stage for the chase, Iyer led the charge with a stellar 41-ball 72, including five boundaries and four sixes. His form has been impressive throughout the season, making him PBKS’s highest run-scorer, closely followed by Prabhsimran Singh, who also contributed a solid fifty. This win elevated PBKS to second place on the points table, while CSK’s slim hopes for playoffs were extinguished after securing only four points from ten matches.
The issue of over-rate breaches is not isolated, with players like Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants), Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans), and others, including Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Rajat Patidar, Riyan Parag, and Hardik Pandya, all facing fines this season.
Looking ahead, PBKS will face Lucknow Super Giants at Dharamsala on 4th May, marking their first home game of the season.
