Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Tim David has been fined 30 percent of his match fee and handed one demerit point for making an obscene gesture during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Incident Details
The incident occurred in the 18th over of RCB's innings when David, after hitting a boundary off LSG pacer Mohsin Khan, was seen making an inappropriate hand gesture towards the opposition dugout. The gesture was captured by the broadcast cameras and quickly went viral on social media.
David, who scored a quickfire 32 off 18 balls, was later reprimanded by the match officials for his actions. The IPL's Code of Conduct was invoked, and the all-rounder was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2, which pertains to “abuse of a cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings.”
Penalty Imposed
As per the IPL's disciplinary committee, David was fined 30 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point. This is his first offence in the current season. If a player accumulates four or more demerit points within a season, they are suspended for one match.
RCB, batting first, posted a competitive total of 198 for 6, with Virat Kohli top-scoring with 72 off 48 balls. However, LSG chased down the target with three balls to spare, thanks to a brilliant century from Quinton de Kock (105* off 58 balls).
Reactions
Following the match, David issued a brief apology on his social media accounts, stating that his gesture was not intended to offend anyone and that he regretted his actions. RCB team management also expressed disappointment over the incident, with head coach Andy Flower stating that such behavior is not acceptable within the team culture.
The IPL governing council has reminded all players to maintain decorum on the field and warned that stricter penalties could be imposed for similar offenses in the future.
