Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin. (Credits: IPL)

Just when all the other teams are peaking their form as the IPL enters its business phase, Ravichandran Ashwin-led Kings XI Punjab are showing signs of losing their form. They have lost three of their last four games. On Saturday, Delhi Capitals thoroughly outplayed them and the Punjab-based outfit have now dropped out of the top four. With 5 wins and as many losses, they are now at fifth spot.

Put in to bat first, Kings XI scored 163 for 7. Chris Gayle top-scored for the side, scoring 69 but got little support from the other end. Kings XI squandered a good chance to put up a big total and paid the price with another loss. Delhi, in reply, chased down the total without breaking much sweat. Shikhar Dhawan led the charge early on by scoring 56 before skipper Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 58 to take the side home.

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Kings XI Punjab then received a further blow after the game when their skipper Ravichandran Ashwin was fined for slow-over rate offence. Since it was was Ashwin, and his team’s, first such offence of the season, the off-spinner was docked INR 12 Lakh. The Kings XI players will now have to be careful for the remainder of the season as their skipper is now in danger of getting a ban.

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IPL 2019: Ravichandran Ashwin In Danger Of Getting Banned
Ravichandran Ashwin (Credits: IPL)

The Kings XI bowlers now need to finish the overs within the stipulated time. In case, they fail to do so, their skipper will land in danger of getting a ban for the slow over-rate offence.

A second offence over-rate would result in a fine of INR 24 lakh for the captain and of INR 6 lakh or 25% of the match fee from every other player in the team, whichever is lesser. A third offence will cost the captain INR 30 lakh and a ban from the team’s next game, while each player in the XI will be fined INR 12 lakh or 50% of the match fee, whichever is lesser.

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Meanwhile, apart from Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli have also paid a similar fine for slow-over rate offence.

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