Shreyas Iyer Fined Rs 12 Lakh for Slow Over-Rate in PBKS vs GT IPL 2026 Clash

Shreyas Iyer fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate despite Punjab Kings’ thrilling win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 opener.

Shreyas Iyer and his Punjab Kings began their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign with a win, but the captain faced a setback off the field. Iyer was fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during the match against Gujarat Titans.

“Punjab Kings (PBKS) Captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 4 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh.

“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Iyer was fined INR 12 lakhs,” stated a media release from BCCI.

Bowlers Set the Tone, Connolly Shines on Debut

Punjab Kings produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Gujarat Titans to 162/6. Yuzvendra Chahal and Vijaykumar Vyshak shared five wickets, with Chahal’s control in the middle overs proving crucial.

In response, PBKS had a shaky start but recovered strongly thanks to a match-winning knock from debutant Cooper Connolly. The young batter smashed an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls, anchoring the chase with composure.

Connolly, along with Prabhsimran Singh (37), stitched a vital 76-run partnership that laid the foundation for victory.

ALSO READ | WATCH | Yuzvendra Chahal and Jos Buttler Engages In Viral Banter Ahead of IPL 2026 Clash

Late Drama Before PBKS Seal the Chase

Despite being in control, Punjab Kings faced a late wobble as Prasidh Krishna triggered a mini-collapse with three quick wickets. Washington Sundar also chipped in to keep Gujarat Titans in the hunt.

Earlier, Shubman Gill (39) and Jos Buttler (38) were the main contributors for GT, but their efforts weren’t enough to push the total beyond reach.

Eventually, Connolly held his nerve, finishing the chase in 19.1 overs and guiding Punjab Kings to a three-wicket win with five balls remaining.