IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals Captain Penalized Following Loss to Gujarat Titans
Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson faced a significant penalty following the team’s match against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Samson incurred a fine of Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over rate during the high-stakes encounter at their home ground.
Despite a valiant effort, the Royals suffered a narrow three-wicket defeat against the Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday, April 10, halting their impressive four-match winning streak in IPL 2024. Nonetheless, RR continues to hold the top position in the points table, ahead of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan Royals, found himself fined for the team’s tardy over rate against the Titans. According to an official IPL release, Samson was penalized Rs 12 lakhs as it marked the team’s first offense of the season regarding minimum over-rate violations stipulated in the IPL’s Code of Conduct.
“As it was his team’s first offense of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offenses, Samson was fined ₹12 lakhs,” the IPL release stated.
Earlier in the season, players such as Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill had also faced fines for similar offenses. However, since this is RR’s inaugural breach this season, only the captain bore the brunt of the penalty.
Nevertheless, the consequences escalate should the team repeat the offense. In such a scenario, the captain’s fine will double, and playing XI members will also face fines, with the possibility of a match ban for the captain upon a third offense.
During the post-match presentation, a visibly disappointed Sanju Samson expressed the challenge of identifying the precise moment of defeat. He commended the Gujarat Titans for their performance and highlighted the unpredictable nature of the tournament, emphasizing the importance of learning from setbacks.
“It’s very hard to speak at the moment. It’s the hardest job when the team loses. After a few hours, I might be able to tell you where we exactly lost. I think to be honest, you have to give credit to the Gujarat Titans. That’s the beauty of this tournament so we can’t demand success. We have to take the learnings and move forward. When I was batting I thought somewhere around 180 would be good,” Samson remarked.
Initially in a strong position while defending 197 runs, RR faced a reversal of fortune as Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan stitched a crucial 39-run partnership off just 15 balls for the seventh wicket. Rashid’s boundary off the final ball marked the end of RR’s unbeaten streak this season, highlighting the unpredictability and competitiveness of the IPL.
