IPL 2019: RCB skipper Virat Kohli fined INR 12 Lakhs for slow over-rate

Royal Challengers Bangalore, on Saturday, finally tasted success this season with an eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The much-awaited win for the Royal Challengers came after six straight losses in the competition. The win, however, turned a bit bitter as their skipper Virat Kohli became the third captain of this season to be fined for the slow-over rate.

Bowling first, the Royal Challengers Bangalore completed their bowling innings only by 21:45 IST. As per the rule, the IPL slapped an INR 12 lakh fine on Virat Kohli. The other captains to suffer this fate this season are Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma and Rajasthan Royals’ Ajinkya Rahane. The fine on Kohli was imposed by match referee Prakash Bhatt.

“Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 match against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on 13th April 2019,” stated the release from the IPL. “As it was his team’s first offense of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offenses, Mr. Kohli was fined Rs 12 lakh,” added the release.

The further offence of slow-over rate would lead to harsher punishments for Kohli as well as his team. A second offence over-rate would result in a fine of INR 24 lakh for the captain and of INR 6 lakh or 25% of the match fee from every other player in the team, whichever is lesser.

In case the team is found guilty of slow over-rate offence for the third time, Kohli will have to cough up INR 30 lakh and a ban from the team’s next game. On the other hand, each player in the playing XI will be fined INR 12 lakh or 50% of the match fee, whichever is lesser.

Kohli pleased with the win

Kohli, meanwhile, was absolutely delighted when he came out for the post-match presentation after the win. Asked to bat first, the Kings XI ended on 173 for 4, thanks to an unbeaten 99 from former Royal Challengers man Chris Gayle. The Royal Challengers did extremely well to keep Gayle and others quiet during the middle overs. Kohli and AB de Villiers then struck fifties as the Royal Challengers crossed the line in the final over.

“Most pleasing thing is coming for an interview at this time, and not immediately out of the field. Great feeling to get across the line. Have been unlucky in couple of games. Won’t say we’ve been unlucky in every game, but a couple of games we should’ve closed out before this. After so many setbacks, the guys had desire. That’s one word we spoke about,” Kohli said after the win.

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