Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower has received a Level 1 sanction under the IPL 2026 Code of Conduct, with a fine amounting to 15% of his match fee. The penalty was handed out after RCB’s game against Mumbai Indians in Raipur on Sunday, May 10. The IPL’s disciplinary process states that Flower breached Article 2.3 of the Code of Conduct, which addresses the use of an audible obscenity during a match.
The incident took place in the 17.2 over of RCB’s chase. Flower was involved in a heated and animated exchange with the fourth official at that stage. The confrontation followed a controversial boundary call involving Krunal Pandya. When facing AM Ghazanfar, Krunal struck the ball towards wide long-on. Naman Dhir then took the catch close to the ropes and deflected the ball back towards the field while also stepping over the boundary line.
Tilak Varma failed to complete the catch and appeared to react as if he believed the ball had gone for six. The moment suggested he may have been unsure about whether contact near the boundary cushions had occurred, possibly thinking that Naman had brushed the boundary area. However, the replays indicated that Dhir had not made contact with the cushions during the attempt. As Krunal began to cramp up, he did not look to take a run, and the ball ultimately ended as a dot delivery.
Flower acknowledged the offence of “speaking aggressively with the fourth umpire” and accepted the sanction from match referee Amit Sharma. Under IPL rules, penalties for Level 1 breaches are treated as final and binding.
