Punjab Kings may be riding high in the field, but the skipper Shreyas Iyer It has fallen into trouble after being fined Rs 24 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their win against Chennai Super Kings. The penalty comes as Punjab’s second over-rate offense of the season, which means the results go beyond the skipper. The rest of the playing XI, including the impact player, has also been fined Rs 6 lakh or 25 per cent of their match fee, whichever is less. However, major concerns lie ahead for Punjab. According to IPL regulations, another violation during the remainder of the season will result in Iyer being fined Rs 30 lakh and suspended for one match. With PBKS still having at least 12 matches left in the league stage, the margin for error is now extremely small. The fine came on a night when Iyer led from the front with the bat, scoring a fluent 50 off 29 balls to chase down 209 to give Punjab a five-wicket win. His 59-run stand with Nihal Vadhira proved decisive as Punjab chased down the target with determination. Punjab’s chase began with Priyansh Arya’s explosive 11-ball 39, while Prabhasmaran Singh and Cooper Connolly ensured steady progress in the middle overs. But it was Iyer who took control after a cautious start, quickening pace against the spinners and playing a number of authentic shots, including a six off Rahul Chahar. Earlier, Chennai Super Kings scored 209 for five, with Ayush Mahatre scoring 73 off 43 balls. He put on a 96-run partnership with skipper Rutoraj Gaikwad, who scored 28, after being dismissed after an early shock. Sanju Samson. Despite a strong total, CSK was unable to overcome Punjab’s batting depth, due to late contributions Sarfraz Khan And Shivam Dubey proved inadequate in the end. While the result cemented Punjab’s position with a second consecutive win, the sluggish over-rate offense has added a layer of pressure to Iyer’s captaincy. With a long season ahead of them, Punjab will need to be cautious, as another slip-up could see their captain miss a crucial match in the deciding stage of the tournament.
