Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Tim David has been fined 30 per cent of his match fee and handed two demerit points for breaching Level 1 of the IPL Code of Conduct. The penalty stems from an incident during RCB’s narrow victory against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday, May 10.
The IPL confirmed David violated Article 2.6 of the Code of Conduct, which pertains to "using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting." This marks the second time this season David has faced disciplinary action for a code of conduct breach. The sanctions were issued after a video circulated widely on social media, appearing to show David making a middle-finger gesture from the RCB dugout following the dramatic, last-ball conclusion of the match.
Gesture Followed Tense Encounter
The incident occurred in the context of a high-stakes match that saw RCB secure a two-wicket win over MI in Raipur. The game, which went down to the wire, eliminated Mumbai Indians from the playoff contention. David himself had a disappointing outing with the bat, dismissed for a golden duck.
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Potential for Further Sanctions
With the two demerit points accumulated, David now stands on the verge of suspension. An additional demerit point would result in a one-match ban. This situation could impact RCB’s campaign as they progress towards the playoffs.
Context of the Match
The match itself was a closely contested affair, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully chasing a target of 167 set by Mumbai Indians. The victory propelled RCB to the top of the standings. Notably, RCB head coach Andy Flower also faced disciplinary action for a separate incident during the same game.
