Andy Flower, the head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has been fined for a Level 1 breach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during a fixture against Mumbai Indians. The former Zimbabwe international was penalised 15 per cent of his match fee following an altercation with the fourth official. The incident occurred during a critical juncture of the match, drawing scrutiny toward bench discipline in the high-stakes tournament.
Nature of the Infraction
According to an official statement released by the IPL, Flower was found in violation of Article 2.3 of the Code of Conduct. This specific article pertains to the “use of an audible obscenity during a match.” The breach took place in the 17.2nd over of the second innings while Royal Challengers Bengaluru were engaged in their run-chase. Flower reportedly became involved in a heated confrontation with the fourth umpire, during which the audible obscenity was recorded.
Context of the Dispute
The tension originated from a controversial decision involving a boundary-line catch. Mumbai Indians’ Krunal Pandya struck a delivery from RCB bowler AM Ghazanfar toward wide long-on. Naman Dhir, positioned near the boundary rope, intercepted the ball. As his momentum threatened to take him over the boundary, Dhir threw the ball to teammate Tilak Varma.
Varma, however, made a negligible effort to complete the catch. His hesitation stemmed from a belief that Dhir’s foot had contacted the boundary cushion while releasing the ball, which would have resulted in a six. Consequently, Varma did not pursue the catch with full intent. Subsequent video replays confirmed that Dhir had not touched the cushion during the manoeuvre. Due to severe cramping, the batsman, Krunal Pandya, was unable to attempt a run, resulting in a dot ball.
Disciplinary Action and Sanctions
Following the match, Match Referee Amit Sharma reviewed the footage and the umpire’s report. Flower admitted to the offence of “speaking aggressively” to the fourth official and accepted the proposed sanction.
| Detail | Information |
| Offender | Andy Flower (Head Coach, RCB) |
| Breach Level | Level 1 |
| Code Article | Article 2.3 (Audible Obscenity) |
| Penalty | 15% of Match Fee |
| Match Referee | Amit Sharma |
| Opponent | Mumbai Indians |
Under the established IPL regulations for Level 1 breaches, the Match Referee’s decision is regarded as final and binding, with no provision for appeal. This disciplinary action serves as a reminder of the strict standards of conduct expected from coaching staff and players alike regarding interactions with match officials.