Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined ₹12 lakh following his team’s slow over-rate during their IPL 2026 opening match against Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. This penalty marks the first such disciplinary action of the season.
The Indian Premier League issued a statement confirming that because this was the team’s first offense of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct, the minimum fine was applied. Should the team repeat the offense, the penalties for the captain and the playing XI will increase significantly under the league’s strict over-rate regulations.
Despite the financial setback for the skipper, the Punjab Kings enjoyed a successful night on the field. PBKS secured a thrilling three-wicket victory, chasing down a target of 163 with five balls to spare. The hero of the match was young Australian debutant Cooper Connolly, who smashed an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls to guide his team home after a mid-innings collapse triggered by GT’s Prasidh Krishna.
Earlier in the game, the Punjab bowling unit put on a disciplined display. Seamer Vyshak Vijayakumar (3/34) and veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) combined to take five wickets, effectively restricting the Gujarat Titans to 162/6. While Shreyas Iyer will be pleased with the two points, the over-rate lapse serves as a reminder of the league’s focus on maintaining match timings.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Key Performers |
| Gujarat Titans | 162/6 (20) | Shubman Gill (39), Jos Buttler (38) |
| Punjab Kings | 165/7 (19.1) | Cooper Connolly (72*), Vyshak Vijayakumar (3/34) |
Result: Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets.