Virat Kohli fined INR 2.4m for over rate offence

Monitoring Desk

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s stand-in captain for the Rajasthan Royals game – Virat Kohli has been slapped with INR 2.4 million (about PKR 8.3 million) for over-rate violation.

He was fined after his side failed to finish their overs in the required amount of time at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, 23 April. Not only Kohli, but the entire Bangalore playing XI including captain Faf du Plessis have been fined 25 percent of their match fees.

Royal Challengers also faced the on-field penalty and had to bowl the 20th over with just four fielders outside the 30-yard circle. It was the second-over-rate offense committed by Royal Challengers in IPL 2023.

Their first-over-rate offense came in their defeat against Lucknow Super Giants, also at home. Only Faf du Plessis, Royal Challengers’ regular captain, was fined INR 12 lakh ($14,600) at the time.

Kohli has been the stand-in captain for Royal Challengers in their last two games, with du Plessis not fit to field because of a grade-one intercostal strain. Du Plessis batted in both games but was substituted out when Royal Challengers were fielding, as the team made the most of the Impact Player rule.

Royal Challengers have so far won four out of their seven matches and sit fifth on the points table.