Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined ₹12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during his side’s IPL 2026 opener against the Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Despite the penalty, Punjab Kings began their campaign on a positive note, registering a hard-fought three-wicket victory.
However, the over-rate breach meant Iyer became the first captain this season to face disciplinary action under the league’s Code of Conduct.
According to the IPL’s official statement, the offence falls under Article 2.22, which deals with minimum over-rate violations. As this was PBKS’ first offence of the season, only the captain was penalised. “Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate,” the statement read, confirming the ₹12 lakh fine.
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The IPL mandates that teams complete their bowling innings within 90 minutes. A second offence would result in the captain being fined ₹24 lakh, while other members of the playing XI would also face monetary penalties. Repeated breaches carry even stricter consequences, including heavier fines for both the captain and the squad.
🚨12 Lakh Fine for Shreyas Iyer🚨
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been slapped with a 12 lakh penalty after his team was found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate in their IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans.
— CricSachin (@Sachin_Gandhi7) April 1, 2026
On the field, Iyer had a mixed outing. The PBKS skipper showed grit during the chase despite suffering a painful blow to his hand at the non-striker’s end. He continued batting through discomfort before being dismissed for 18 by Prasidh Krishna.
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Reassuringly for Punjab fans, Yuzvendra Chahal later confirmed that Iyer’s injury is not serious. With momentum on their side after the opening win, PBKS will now shift focus to their next challenge against Chennai Super Kings on April 3. While the fine is a minor setback, Punjab’s overall performance suggests they remain strong contenders as IPL 2026 gathers pace.
