Second Captain Penalized After Hardik Pandya
Rajasthan Royals’ stand-in captain Riyan Parag has become the second captain in IPL 2025 to be penalized for maintaining a slow over rate. Earlier, Mumbai Indians’ Hardik Pandya was fined for the same offense in their match against Gujarat Titans.
Despite this setback, Parag found some relief as Rajasthan Royals secured their first win of the season after two consecutive losses. In a thrilling encounter, they defeated Chennai Super Kings in their final home match in Guwahati. However, the joy of victory was slightly overshadowed by the heavy penalty imposed on Parag for violating IPL regulations.
BCCI Imposes ₹12 Lakh Fine on Parag for Slow Over Rate
On Monday, the BCCI confirmed that Parag was fined ₹12 lakh for Rajasthan Royals’ slow over rate during their match against CSK at Barsapara Stadium.
Since this was the first offense of the season for Rajasthan under IPL’s minimum over-rate policy (Article 2.22), Parag was penalized without facing a match suspension.
Changes in IPL Over-Rate Penalty Rules
- In the previous season (IPL 2024), repeated slow over-rate violations resulted in match suspensions for captains.
- Hardik Pandya missed MI’s opening match in IPL 2025 due to a suspension from the previous season for multiple slow over-rate offenses.
- However, ahead of IPL 2025, BCCI revised the rules, stating that captains will no longer face suspensions but will receive demerit points based on the severity of the offense.
Rajasthan Royals Secure First IPL 2025 Victory Against CSK
While the penalty was a setback, Rajasthan Royals delivered an impressive performance against Chennai Super Kings, securing a hard-fought win.
Key Highlights from the Match:
- Wanindu Hasaranga’s Spin Magic: The Sri Lankan spinner exposed CSK’s struggles against spin, claiming 4 wickets for 35 runs.
- Sandeep Sharma’s Clutch Bowling: In a dramatic final over, Sandeep Sharma successfully defended 20 runs, including dismissing MS Dhoni, to seal the victory.
- Nitish Rana’s Match-Winning Knock: With the bat, Nitish Rana played a crucial half-century, setting up a defendable total for Rajasthan Royals.
Upcoming Fixture: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings
After their first victory, Rajasthan Royals will now travel to Chandigarh to face Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium.
The Royals will be looking to build momentum in IPL 2025 and avoid further penalties as they progress in the tournament.
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