Delhi Capitals’ Pant Fined ₹24 Lakh for 2nd Code of Conduct Breach
Delhi Capitals’ skipper Rishabh Pant found himself in hot water once again during the IPL 2024 season, as he was fined for his team’s slow over-rate in their match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Visakhapatnam on April 3. This misstep led to a crushing defeat for the Delhi-based franchise, leaving them languishing in ninth place on the IPL 2024 standings with a mere 2 points to their name.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) issued a statement confirming Pant’s fine, citing it as the team’s second breach of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct regarding minimum over-rate offences. As a result, Pant was slapped with a hefty fine of ₹24 lakhs. Additionally, other members of the playing XI, including the Impact Player, faced individual fines of either ₹6 lakhs or 25% of their respective match fees, whichever was lesser.
This incident marked the second time Pant had been fined in the ongoing season. Previously, on April 1, he was penalized ₹12 lakhs for a similar offence during a different match. The repeated breaches underscored a concerning lack of discipline within the Delhi Capitals’ camp, raising questions about their ability to maintain standards and compete effectively in the tournament.
The match against KKR saw Delhi Capitals suffer a devastating loss by a margin of 106 runs, as KKR posted a formidable total of 272 for seven – the second-highest total in IPL history. This defeat compounded the struggles of the Delhi franchise, who had only managed to secure victory in one out of their four games thus far in the season.
Following the disappointing performance, Delhi Capitals’ head coach Ricky Ponting expressed his dismay, particularly regarding his team’s bowling display and slow over-rate. Ponting emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues promptly to salvage their campaign in the tournament. In a post-match press conference, he acknowledged feeling embarrassed by his team’s first-half showing and stressed the need for immediate rectification to ensure competitiveness moving forward.
The repeated infractions and lackluster performances highlighted the challenges facing Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, as they grappled with issues of discipline and performance consistency. With the tournament progressing, the franchise faced an uphill battle to regain momentum and stake their claim among the contenders.
