IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined INR 24 lakh for maintaining slow over-rate during RCB vs RR clash

Royal Challengers Bangalore, who had named Mr. Virat Kohli as their Captain for their game against Rajasthan Royals, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Rajasthan Royals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 23, 2023.

As it was his team’s second offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Mr. Kohli was fined Rs. 24 lakh and each member of the Playing XI, including the impact substitute, was fined Rs. 6 lakh or 25 percent of the match fee, whichever is lesser.

Notably, regular skipper Faf du Plessis was found guilty of the same offence and had to face an INR 12 lakh fine after the game against the Lucknow Super Giants. RCB lost the game on the final delivery as it went down to wire to end as a thrilling contest, and it then came to notice that RCB maintained a slow-over rate in the second innings.

Since it was the team's first offence, they had to pay INR 12 lakh then, but with the instance being repeated again, the fine was doubled to INR 24 lakh. Faf du Plessis was a part of the team, but after batting in the first innings, he made way for Harshal Patel, who came in as the Impact substitute in the second innings.

Faf has not been leading the side since the past couple of games due to a grade-one intercostal strain. The team management took a mutual decision to let him play only during RCB's batting, and give him rest while fielding, thereby replacing him with an impact player. 

In the game, RCB also faced the on-field penalty as they were allowed to field only four fielders outside the circle in the 20th over of the contest against the Rajasthan Royals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Having faced the monetary penalty twice now, RCB would look to keep the over-rate in check moving forward.