Why Was Ishant Sharma Fined Mid-IPL? The Mystery Behind His 25% Match Fee Cut

In a surprising development during IPL 2025, senior fast bowler Ishant Sharma—now playing for Gujarat Titans—has been hit with a 25% deduction from his match fee. But what exactly did he do to face this penalty, especially when he’s not even the captain, so a slow over rate fine is ruled out?

Let’s break it down.

The Incident: Rule Break During SRH vs GT Clash

The punishment stems from the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans match held on April 6 in Hyderabad. While the exact nature of Ishant’s violation hasn’t been disclosed, the IPL’s official release confirmed he breached the Code of Conduct Level 1. Ishant accepted the charge, so no further hearing was required.

The lack of detail has sparked speculation—was it an aggressive send-off? A confrontation with an umpire? Only insiders know for sure.

Performance Woes Add to the Blow

As if the fine wasn’t enough, Ishant also had a rough outing with the ball. Coming in as an impact player, he leaked 53 runs in 4 overs, going wicketless. His economy rate was the worst in the match, making it a double blow—poor performance and a financial penalty.

Ishant's Bumpy IPL Journey

This is Ishant Sharma’s seventh IPL team, and so far, IPL 2025 hasn’t gone his way. In 3 matches, he has taken just 1 wicket. With 93 wickets in 113 career IPL games, Ishant has experience, but this season he’s struggling to make an impact.

The Bigger Question: What's Next?

Given his current form and now a disciplinary action against him, will Gujarat Titans continue to trust him in their playing XI? Or is the clock ticking on the veteran’s IPL career?

Only time will tell—but for now, Ishant’s fine is a costly reminder that experience doesn’t make anyone immune to the rules.