Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David received a fine equivalent to 25 percent of his match fee and one demerit point for violating the IPL Code of Conduct in the encounter with Mumbai Indians. The breach happened in Match 20 of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, where David contravened Article 2.4 by not following an umpire’s directive. The IPL reported that the initial violation occurred in the 18th over of Bengaluru’s batting, when umpires opted to replace the ball. David took the ball and hesitated to give it back despite multiple prompts. A comparable event unfolded in the last over, where he once more delayed handing over the ball, leading to repeated disregard for instructions. David acknowledged the infraction and agreed to the penalty from the match referee. What seemed like a playful moment during the contest at Wankhede Stadium, including David juggling the ball after a six and eliciting responses from opponents like Rohit Sharma, was ultimately ruled a violation of league rules. In a separate matter, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya incurred a ₹12 lakh fine for a sluggish over-rate. Since this marked the team’s initial violation this season under Article 2.22, the punishment was confined to a financial penalty. During the game, Bengaluru set a strong total of 240 for 4, driven by half-centuries from Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, and captain Rajat Patidar. Mumbai Indians managed 222 for 5 in reply, losing by 18 runs.
