Who pays player fines in IPL? Know the truth as LSG’s Digvesh Rathi fined again

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi has been fined for the second time in IPL 2025, sparking curiosity among fans about who exactly foots the bill when cricketers are penalised in the tournament.

Rathi, who was the Player of the Match during LSG’s 12-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 4, was fined 50 percent of his match fee for a provocative celebration after dismissing Naman Dhir.

Repeat Offences Adds Demerit Points

This was Rathi’s second breach of the IPL Code of Conduct under Article 2.5, which prohibits behaviour likely to provoke aggressive reactions.

His first offence occurred earlier in the week against Punjab Kings when he dismissed Priyansh Arya and mimicked writing in a notebook, a gesture that drew criticism. The IPL slapped a 25 percent match fee fine on him then.

With the latest infraction, Rathi now has three demerit points. Many speculated that Rathi would be penalised an astronomical Rs 50 lakh, a sum that far exceeds his annual contract. However, the financial math behind IPL fines tells a different story.

How IPL Fines Are Calculated and Paid

Contrary to online rumours, Rathi will not pay more than he earns. For IPL 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a match fee of Rs 7.5 lakh for every player, including impact substitutes. Fines are levied as a percentage of this match fee.

First offence: 25% of Rs 7.5 lakh = Rs 1,87,500

Second offence: 50% of Rs 7.5 lakh = Rs 3,75,000

Total payable: Rs 5,62,500

This amount is well within the Rs 30 lakh contract under which Rathi was signed in the IPL 2025 mega-auction.

Who Actually Pays the Fine? Player or Franchise?

While the IPL Code of Conduct imposes penalties on players, there is no uniform rule across franchises regarding who ultimately pays. Often, teams cover fines imposed on their players, especially in high-profile or debatable cases. In other instances, fines are directly deducted from the player’s match fee.

The decision lies with the franchise, as the BCCI sends a detailed invoice to the team only at the end of the season. This bill includes all fines and penalties accrued over the tournament, and franchises then determine whether the fine is to be absorbed by the team or deducted from individual players.

For example, during the infamous 2023 scuffle between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, the fines were paid by their respective teams.

Pant Fined for Slow Over-Rate

LSG captain Rishabh Pant was also penalised Rs 12 lakh for his team’s slow over-rate against MI. According to Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct, this was LSG’s first such offence, hence the relatively modest penalty. A repeat offence would escalate the fine or even lead to suspension for the skipper.