Will Shreyas Iyer Face IPL Ban? Questions over Punjab Kings captain amid BCCI crackdown

New Delhi: Despite a victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appears to be tightening its grip on Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer. While the team secured its second consecutive win, the transgression of a slow over-rate has once again proven costly.

Specifically, PBKS took longer than the allotted time to complete their 20 overs for the second consecutive match. Consequently, a fine of ₹24 lakh has been imposed on captain Shreyas Iyer. Meanwhile, the playing XI and the Impact Player have been fined ₹6 lakh each, or 25 percent of their match fees (whichever is lower).

On April 3, during the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), PBKS's bowling attack proved to be quite expensive. The team conceded a total of 15 wides and 1 no-ball, resulting in a loss of both time and runs. South African pacer Marco Jansen conceded the highest number of wides, bowling 6 of them. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled 3 wides and 1 no-ball, while Arshdeep Singh also conceded 3 wides. Xavier Bartlett bowled 2 wides, and Marcus Stoinis bowled 1. Vijaykumar Vyshak was the only bowler who did not concede any extra runs.

Earlier in the match, batting first, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) posted a formidable total of 209/5. Ayush Mhatre played a magnificent innings, scoring 73 runs off 43 balls. Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 45 runs off 27 balls, while Sarfaraz Khan played a brisk cameo, scoring 32 runs off just 12 deliveries.

In reply, PBKS got off to an aggressive start. Priyansh Arya turned the tide of the match by smashing 39 runs off just 11 balls. Prabhsimran Singh was run out after scoring 43 runs, while Cooper Connolly contributed 36 runs. Captain Shreyas Iyer played a crucial innings, scoring 50 runs off 29 balls. Ultimately, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis steered the team to victory. However, despite winning the match, a breach of the over-rate regulations has compounded PBKS's difficulties. Punjab Kings has now climbed to the top of the points table and is set to play its next match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on April 6.

Who Was Fined and When in IPL 2026?

Abhishek Sharma Faces the Music on April 2: In the match played against KKR at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on April 2, Abhishek Sharma played a crucial innings of 48 runs and played a pivotal role in the team's victory.

However, his conduct during the match landed him in trouble. The BCCI found him guilty of breaching Article 2.3 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which pertains to the use of offensive or obscene language. For this transgression, he was fined 25 percent of his match fee, and one demerit point was also added to his disciplinary record.

Shreyas Iyer Also Penalized on March 31: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was also fined ₹12 lakh on March 31 for maintaining a slow over-rate during the match played against the Gujarat Titans.

When Could Shreyas Iyer Face a Ban?

Since this was Shreyas's first offense regarding a slow over-rate this season, he was fined ₹12 lakh. Now, on April 3, the same mistake was repeated for a second time; consequently, he was fined ₹24 lakh, and financial penalties were also imposed on the rest of the team's players.

Previously, a ban was mandated if a captain was found guilty of a slow over-rate for a third time. Under the old rules, the captain could be banned for one match; however, this specific rule has now been abolished.

For the IPL 2025 season, a new demerit point system has been implemented, which is modeled after the regulations set forth by the ICC (International Cricket Council). Now, regardless of the penalty imposed by the Match Referee, the player or team official concerned will also incur demerit points. For instance, if an individual is fined 25% of their match fee, they will receive one demerit point. These points will remain on record for a period of 36 months and will accumulate; the accumulation of a significant number of points could even lead to a suspension.

Furthermore, in the event of a Level 2 or Level 3 offense, a player, team official, or franchise may file an appeal with the BCCI Ombudsman. However, doing so requires the payment of a fee of ₹90 lakh—an amount that will be refunded only if the appeal is proven to be entirely valid. Conversely, any penalties imposed prior to 2025 will not be factored into the demerit point tally.