Bengaluru captain Virat Kohli has been handed a Rs. 12 Lakh fine for maintaining a slow over-rate during his side’s eight-wicket win over team Punjab in Mohali on Saturday.
Opting to bowl first, Bengaluru were finally on the winning side – following six back-to-back defeats - as a batting masterclass from the likes of Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis made sure their team chase the target of 174 with relative ease.
The victory, however, came at cost of their captain being slapped a fine after Bengaluru completed their bowling innings by 21:45 IST.
"Bengaluru captain Virat Kohli has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their Indian T20 League 2019 match against Punjab in Mohali on 13th April 2019,” read an official statement from the tournament.
"As it was his team’s first offense of the season under the league’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offenses, Mr. Kohli was fined Rs 12 lakh.”
A tournament surrounded by controversy, Kohli has become the third captain this season to be fined following a slow-over rate. Earlier in the tournament, the likes of Ajinkya Rahane – Rajasthan captain – and Rohit Sharma – Mumbai captain – were given similar fines. The former’s offense came during his side’s eight-wicket defeat against Chennai at M. Chidambaram Stadium on March 31, while the latter was found guilty against Punjab on March 30.
