Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finally had something to celebrate on the field, but their captain ended up on the wrong side of the rulebook soon after. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been fined INR 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during CSK’s 23-run win over Delhi Capitals at Chepauk. He has become only the third captain to be fined for slow over-rates, joining the unfortunate list that has Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
It was CSK’s first victory of IPL 2026 after three straight defeats, built on Sanju Samson’s commanding 115* and Jamie Overton’s superb four-fer. Yet, even in a game where things finally clicked, Gaikwad became the third captain this season to be penalised for falling behind the clock.
The IPL confirmed the sanction in a statement, noting that this was CSK’s first offence under Article 2.22 of the Code of Conduct, which deals specifically with minimum over-rate violations.
Gaikwad fined as BCCI tightens rules
Iyer was the first to be penalised and, notably, did so twice in consecutive matches, first against Gujarat Titans and then against CSK. Gill followed after Gujarat’s game against Delhi on April 8.
When CSK bowled the final over of the match (bowled by Anshul Kamboj), they had to bring in an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle. While it didn’t cost CSK the match as a well-set Tristan Stubbs was out in the earlier over. Kamboj bagged Natarajan’s wicket on the final ball of the innings to wrap DC up and take CSK to an incredible win on a superb day at Chepauk.
It was not just the over-rate that drew attention from the match officials. Delhi Capitals batter Nitish Rana was also sanctioned for a Level 1 breach of the Code of Conduct.
Rana was fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point for using inappropriate language during an on-field argument. The incident took place in the 19th over, when he got into a prolonged discussion with the fourth umpire after Tristan Stubbs was denied a request for a glove change in the heat. Moments later, Stubbs fell trying to take on Overton, effectively ending DC’s chase. Rana accepted the sanction without contest.
Captains to get fined in IPL 2026 so far
| Captain | Team | Fixture | Offence No. | Fine (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreyas Iyer | Punjab Kings | vs GT (Mar 31) | 1st | ₹12 lakh |
| Shreyas Iyer | Punjab Kings | vs CSK (Apr 3) | 2nd | ₹24 lakh |
| Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | vs DC (Apr 8) | 1st | ₹12 lakh |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | vs DC (Apr 11) | 1st | ₹12 lakh |
The rules are simple now. A first offence results in a INR 12 lakh fine for the captain. A second offence doubles that amount and also brings financial penalties for the rest of the XI. Teams are forced to operate with one fewer fielder outside the circle if they fall behind during the game.
Slow over-rates penalty in IPL
The BCCI now aims for matches to finish within 3.5 hours, including both innings and breaks. If the bowling team does not start the 20th over by the scheduled time, they must bring an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle (allowing only four fielders outside) for the remainder of the innings.
| Offence | Penalty for Captain | Penalty for Other Players | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Offence | ₹12 Lakh fine | No | Only captain is fined |
| 2nd Offence | ₹24 Lakh fine | ₹6 Lakh or 25% of match fee | Applies to entire playing XII |
| 3rd Offence | ₹30 Lakh fine | Yes | One-match suspension for captain likely |
| Demerit Points | Yes | No | Remain on record for 36 months |
Cricket
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's mentor and RR manager caught using phone during IPL match; could face BCCI action
