New Delhi, 11 May (H.S.): Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has been fined for breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct after a heated argument with the fourth umpire during his team’s high‑stakes clash against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026.

The incident occurred under the pressure‑cooker tension of a last‑ball thriller in Raipur, where RCB knocked MI out of the playoff race with a two‑wicket victory.

The IPL’s official statement, released on Monday, confirmed that Andy Flower was found guilty of a Level‑1 offence under the league’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials.

He was penalised with a 15 per cent deduction from his match fee for violating Article 2.3, which pertains to the “use of an audible obscenity during a match.”

The flashpoint came in the 17.2nd over of the match, when Flower was seen in an animated and aggressive exchange with the fourth umpire after a contentious boundary decision during MI’s run‑chase.

Match referee Amit Sharma conducted the hearing and ruled that the coach’s conduct fell short of the standard expected, though he accepted that Flower had admitted the offence and acknowledged the sanction.

The disciplinary episode unfolded in the backdrop of an electric contest at Raipur, where RCB chased down a tight target against Mumbai Indians with two wickets and one ball to spare, sealing their opponent’s elimination from the playoffs.

The nail‑biting finish saw emotions run high on the field, and the benches of both teams became increasingly animated as the game moved into its final overs.

Flower’s outburst, while consistent with the rising tension, crossed the line set by the IPL’s conduct code, which aims to maintain respect for match officials even in the most gripping contests.

The governing council’s decision to impose a financial penalty—rather than a larger sanction—reflects the relatively minor nature of a Level‑1 breach, but serves as a clear reminder that coaches are as much accountable as players under the league’s disciplinary framework.

In line with the official note, Andy Flower has accepted personal responsibility for his conduct and has agreed to pay the stipulated fine. The BCCI and IPL have reiterated that such incidents will continue to be monitored closely, especially in high‑profile matches where the margin between qualification and elimination hangs by a thread.

For Flower, the episode adds a disciplinary footnote to what was otherwise a crucial coaching moment: overseeing RCB’s dramatic last‑ball win over a traditional giant like Mumbai Indians.

However, the fine also underscores the fine line that even senior mentors must walk between passion and protocol in the modern, media‑saturated arena of T20 cricket.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar