Punjab Kings Captain Shreyas Iyer fined Rs 12 lakh despite thrilling win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026

Shreyas Iyer fined: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was handed a Rs 12 lakh fine by the IPL on Tuesday after his side failed to maintain the minimum required over rate during Match 4 of IPL 2026 against Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh. The IPL confirmed it was Punjab's first such offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which governs slow over-rate violations.

It is, however, a recurring issue for Iyer. Last season he was penalised twice for the same offence, first Rs 12 lakh and then Rs 24 lakh for a second breach during the same tournament.

On the field, though, Punjab had reason to celebrate. They chased down Gujarat's target of 163 with three wickets in hand to open their IPL 2026 account with two valuable points. Cooper Connolly was the standout performer, holding the innings together with an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls to be named Player of the Match.

Punjab's chase began with purpose. Prabhsimran Singh and Connolly added 77 for the second wicket to put the side in a commanding position at 110 for 2. At that stage, the match appeared won. However, Gujarat captain Shubman Gill made a tactical masterstroke, holding back Prasidh Krishna, who was introduced as the Impact Player, until the 13th over. The move paid off spectacularly. Prasidh dismantled Punjab's middle order, taking three wickets for just three runs off 10 deliveries. Punjab slid alarmingly from 110/2 to 118/6, losing four wickets in the space of 16 balls.

With the match hanging in the balance, Connolly, just 22 years old, displayed remarkable composure. He forged crucial partnerships with South Africa's Marco Jansen and fellow Australian Xavier Bartlett, carefully accumulating the runs Punjab needed. Bartlett, too, showed nerves of steel in a high-pressure situation and together the pair carried Punjab over the line.

Gujarat made a bright start, with Gill striking three boundaries in the second over off Bartlett. He and Sai Sudharsan, last season's most prolific opening partnership, had added 37 before Jansen struck, dismissing Sudharsan for 13. Gujarat maintained a brisk pace of nine runs an over through the Powerplay, but the contest shifted as the ball aged.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the IPL's all-time leading wicket-taker, proved pivotal in the middle overs. He removed Gill for 39 with a well-flighted delivery before also accounting for Jos Buttler, who had scratched his way to 38. Jansen, meanwhile, was relentlessly economical, conceding only 20 runs across his four overs. Despite a 11-ball extended final over from Arshdeep Singh, Gujarat managed only 34 runs in the last five overs.

Brief scores

Gujarat Titans 162 (20 overs) · Punjab Kings 163/7 (19.4 overs) · Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets