Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer was penalised for a slow over-rate after his team’s thrilling four-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025. The match, which took place on April 30 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, saw Iyer’s leadership come under scrutiny due to the breach of the IPL’s over-rate rules. Iyer was fined Rs 12 lakh from his match fees as this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which deals with maintaining the minimum over-rate.

The IPL issued a statement confirming the fine, noting that Iyer’s team had failed to meet the required over-rate standard during the match. Despite the penalty, the Punjab Kings celebrated a crucial win that saw them climb to second place in the points table with 13 points, inching closer to securing a playoff spot. This victory was especially sweet, as it was secured at the Chepauk, a venue where the Super Kings have traditionally been dominant.

Iyer’s performance was pivotal in the win. He played an explosive knock of 72 runs off 41 balls, which included five boundaries and four sixes. His timely contribution helped the Kings chase down a challenging target of 191 with two balls to spare. After the match, Iyer expressed his love for chasing big totals, stating, “I love chasing on any field. I feel like I thrive whenever there is a big total on the board and you need to take charge and momentum for the team for the rest of the batters to come and go full throttle.”

Iyer’s consistency with the bat has been one of the standout features of his IPL 2025 campaign. In 10 games, he has scored 360 runs at an impressive average of 51.42, with a blistering strike rate of 180.90. His best innings so far has been an unbeaten 97 runs against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad, which showcased his ability to anchor the innings while also accelerating the scoring when needed.

Punjab Kings will now look to build on this victory as they aim to solidify their position in the top four. Their next challenge comes against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) led by Rishabh Pant, with the match scheduled for Sunday, May 4, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. With Iyer in form and the team riding high on confidence, they will be eager to maintain their momentum and push towards the playoffs.

Although the fine for the slow over-rate is a minor setback, it is unlikely to overshadow the team’s impressive performance and the ongoing rise of Shreyas Iyer as a leader and match-winner for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025.

IT.