NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru allrounder Tim David has been fined for “disobeying” an umpire’s instruction during his team’s IPL 2026 clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.The incident occurred in the 18th over of RCB’s innings when David launched Hardik Pandya for a towering six over deep mid-wicket. The sheer force of the hit altered the shape of the ball, prompting the umpire to call for a replacement.When a box of used balls was brought out, David picked one up and began toying with it. Despite repeated requests from the umpire to return the ball, he continued handling it for a brief period, clearly frustrating the official. The umpire was seen asking for the ball multiple times and appeared visibly irritated.After a short delay, David eventually handed the ball back.“Tim David, Batter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has been fined 25% of his match fee and has also accumulated one Demerit Point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during Match No. 20 against Mumbai Indians (MI),” the IPL said in a statement.“He wanted to have a look at the ball and did not hand it over despite being repeatedly asked to do so. The second incident occurred during the 20th over (19.2), when he again did not hand over the ball to the umpires, amounting to repeated failure to comply with the instructions or directives of the umpires,” it added.“David was found to have breached Article 2.4 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to ‘disobeying an umpire’s instruction during a match.’ David admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction,” the release said.Earlier in the game, RCB rode on half-centuries from captain Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli to post a formidable 240/4 – the second-highest total of the season.In response, Mumbai Indians managed 222/5, as RCB sealed an 18-run victory.
