Axar Patel Fined ₹12 Lakh for Slow Over-Rate in DC’s Loss to Mumbai Indians

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel has been handed a ₹12 lakh fine after his side failed to maintain the required over rate during their narrow 12-run loss to Mumbai Indians on 13th April at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

This marks the first time this season that Axar and his team have been penalised for a slow over-rate. The penalty was confirmed under Article 2.22 of the IPL's Code of Conduct, which deals with minimum over-rate offences. “As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Patel was fined INR 12 lakhs,” read an official IPL statement.  

Interestingly, the BCCI recently tweaked the rules for over-rate violations. Previously, a captain found guilty three times in a season could face a one-match suspension. But that clause has now been scrapped, allowing a bit more breathing room — though fines are still very much in play. Axar now joins a growing list of IPL captains who’ve been penalised for the same issue this year. Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians), Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants), and Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) have all been docked pay for similar offences. 

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals had been flying high at the top of the IPL points table after winning their first four games, but their unbeaten run came to a halt against Mumbai. Chasing a steep 206, Delhi were in a strong position at 135-2 with Karun Nair leading the charge. But after Nair fell for a superb 89, Mumbai's leggie Karn Sharma sparked a collapse that saw Delhi bundled out for 193 — a result that dropped them to second place in the standings. 

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