Punjab Kings may be riding high on the field, but skipper Shreyas Iyer has landed in trouble off it after being fined ₹24 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their win over Chennai Super Kings. The penalty comes as Punjab’s second over-rate offence of the season, which means the consequences extend beyond the captain. The rest of the playing XI, including the Impact Player, have also been fined ₹6 lakh or 25 per cent of their match fees, whichever is lesser. The bigger concern for Punjab, however, lies ahead. As per IPL regulations, another breach during the remainder of the season will result in Iyer being fined ₹30 lakh and handed a one-match suspension. With PBKS still having at least 12 matches left in the league stage, the margin for error is now extremely slim. The fine comes on a night when Iyer led from the front with the bat, scoring a fluent 50 off 29 balls to anchor Punjab’s five-wicket win while chasing 209. His 59-run stand with Nehal Wadhera proved decisive as Punjab chased down the target with composure. Punjab’s chase was set up early by Priyansh Arya’s explosive 39 off 11 balls, while Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly ensured steady progress through the middle overs. But it was Iyer who took control after a cautious start, accelerating against the spinners and playing a range of authoritative shots, including a standout inside-out six off Rahul Chahar. Earlier, Chennai Super Kings had posted 209 for five, powered by Ayush Mhatre’s impressive 73 off 43 balls. He shared a 96-run partnership with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made 28, after an early setback with the dismissal of Sanju Samson. Despite the strong total, CSK were unable to contain Punjab’s batting depth, as late contributions from Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube proved insufficient in the end. While the result strengthened Punjab’s position with a second consecutive win, the slow over-rate offence has added a layer of pressure on Iyer’s captaincy. With a long season still ahead, Punjab will need to be cautious, as another slip-up could see their skipper miss a crucial match at a decisive stage of the tournament.
