The ICC has found India guilty of violating the innings time limit and fined the team 10% of its match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the second ODI in Raipur. India were under pressure in the game and the bowlers were repeatedly interacting with the senior cricketers on the field.
India played the second match of South Africa ODI series in Raipur. Despite scoring 358 runs in their batting innings with two brilliant centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad, India were in trouble as the Proteas batsmen also scored runs with ease.
During the game, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were constantly seen engaged in discussions with the young fast bowlers as well as captain KL Rahul. Many field changes were also made frequently, and all this led to delays in the gap between balls and overs, leading to innings time limits.
ICC fines India after slow over rate in Raipur
India have been fined 10% of their match fee for slow over-rate in the second ODI in Raipur. Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the ban after Indian captain KL Rahul and his team were found guilty of violating the code.
The investigation found that India were two overs short of the target and were therefore charged under section 2.22. The ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences.
Indian players were also fined 5% of the match fee.
Along with the team, the players who were part of the Indian playing eleven were also held equally responsible for the delay and hence, were fined five percent of their match fees for each over that the team failed to bowl within the stipulated time.
KL Rahul, the Indian captain for the series, accepted the charges, leading to an immediate sanction being issued without the need for any hearing. This was the only time India were fined for slow over-rate in the series.
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored his first century in Raipur
India once again lost the toss in Raipur and were sent to bat first like in Ranchi. South Africa always wanted the draw to be in their favour, hence, they were not concerned with the Indians scoring the maximum.
Batting first, India posted a mammoth total of 358 runs on the board, with Virat Kohli scoring his second consecutive century in the series and his 84th in international cricket. Apart from this, young Ruturaj Gaikwad, playing his second match, also scored a century in just 77 balls.
Ruturaj Gaikwad secured the fourth spot in the Indian playing XI for ODIs with his century, at least until vice-captain Shreyas Iyer returns to the team. There is every possibility of Gaikwad being included in the upcoming New Zealand ODI series on home ground.
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