For the first time in the 2025 edition of the IPL, a member of the support staff has been penalised for a Code of Conduct breach. Delhi Capitals’ bowling coach Munaf Patel has been fined following a heated incident during their Super Over thriller against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 16.
The game itself was a pulsating contest that ended in a tie, before Mitchell Starc’s nerves of steel in the Super Over guided Delhi to a dramatic win. Starc first defended nine runs in the final over of regulation play and then restricted Rajasthan to just 11 in the Super Over. KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs chased it down with calmness and composure, helping Delhi register their fifth win in six games and climb to the top of the points table.
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However, away from the cricketing heroics, controversy brewed on the sidelines. On Thursday, the IPL released an official statement confirming that Munaf Patel had been fined 25% of his match fee and handed a demerit point for breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct. Patel was admitted to a Level 1 offence under Article 2.20, which pertains to behaviour contrary to the spirit of the game.
Munaf Patel had a heated exchange with the 4th umpire during the #DCvRR match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi after the umpire denied sending a player to enter the ground to convey his message.#DCvsRR #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/hHv0tNAUvd
— Gaurav Chaudhary (@gkctweets) April 16, 2025
Though the exact nature of the breach wasn’t detailed, sources indicate that Munaf had a verbal altercation with the fourth umpire. The exchange reportedly occurred when Patel attempted to send a tactical message via a substitute player and was denied. The altercation happened while he was tying his shoelaces near the boundary line.
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Despite the incident, Munaf has been instrumental in shaping Delhi’s bowling unit this season. Under his guidance, bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav and Mukesh Kumar have executed plans effectively, with the side successfully defending a total of 188/5. Contributions with the bat came from Abishek Porel (49 off 37), Tristan Stubbs (34* off 18), and Axar Patel (34 off 14).
Rajasthan’s charge, led by half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana, faltered late in the innings. Starc’s 1/36 and a composed Super Over ensured Delhi came out on top. They next face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, aiming to extend their dominance in IPL 2025.
