Mumbai Indians' Tim David and Kieron Pollard Fined for Breaching IPL Code of Conduct

The BCCI has penalized Mumbai Indians batter Tim David and batting coach Kieron Pollard for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during their match against the Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 18, 2024. David and Pollard were each penalized 20% of their match fees for committing a Level 1 offence under Article 2.20 of the IPL's Code of Conduct.

The incident occurred in the last ball of the 15th over when Suryakumar Yadav failed to make any contact with a wide yorker bowled by Arshdeep Singh. However, the MI dugout, including David and Pollard, gestured to Suryakumar to review the decision, which was eventually overturned by the third umpire. This action was deemed illegal as per IPL rules, which forbid players from illegally assisting to decide on a review.

TV cameras showed MI head coach Mark Boucher gesturing to Suryakumar that the delivery was a wide, following which David and Pollard were seen urging the right-hander to take a review. Despite protests from Punjab Kings captain Sam Curran, the umpires allowed the review to go ahead. The IPL later released a statement confirming the sanctions on David and Pollard for "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game".

Both David and Pollard admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. The incident sparked controversy as Suryakumar went on to hit a boundary on the very next ball after the overturned decision. Mumbai Indians ultimately won the high-scoring contest by 7 runs, with Suryakumar remaining unbeaten on 77 off 50 deliveries.

Why this matters: The incident highlights the strict enforcement of the IPL Code of Conduct and the importance of maintaining the spirit of the game. It also raises questions about the role of support staff in influencing on-field decisions and the need for clearer guidelines to prevent such controversies in the future.

Punjab Kings captain Sam Curran expressed his disappointment with the incident, stating, "I thought that was the wrong decision. We appealed for it, but then you see their dugout calling for a review. That's not how the game should be played." The IPL Governing Council is expected to review the incident and consider implementing measures to avoid similar <a href="https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!sports/ipl-2024-mi-batter-tim-david-and-batting-coach-kieron-poll

Key Takeaways

• BCCI penalized MI's Tim David and Kieron Pollard for breaching IPL Code of Conduct.
• They were fined 20% of match fees for illegally assisting Suryakumar to take DRS.
• The incident sparked controversy as Suryakumar hit a boundary after the overturned decision.
• The IPL enforced strict rules on maintaining the spirit of the game.
• The incident raises questions about the role of support staff in influencing on-field decisions.