India and West Indies have been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for slow over-rates during the third and final ODI of their three-match series.
But India's punishment was twice as high as the penalty imposed on West Indies. India was fined 20% of their match fees, with West Indies paying 10% for the same.
The ICC announced the sanctions on October 5, 2026, two days after the match in New Chandigarh.
Why did India get a bigger fine?
The difference was caused by the number of overs each team was behind the required rate.
After time allowances were taken into account, India was ruled four overs short on their required over-rate. West Indies were two overs short.
The ICC Code of Conduct demands a fine of 5% of a player's match fee for every over a team fails to bowl within the allotted time.
That meant India's four-over shortfall resulted in a 20% penalty, while West Indies' two-over shortfall had a 10% penalty.
Shubman Gill and Shai Hope Accept Sanctions
India captain Shubman Gill and West Indies captain Shai Hope both pleaded guilty to the slow-over-rate offence.
At this stage, they agreed to the proposed sanctions so that neither case needed a formal disciplinary hearing.
The charges were imposed following the match officials' assessment, with Prakash Bhatt, Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposing the sanctions.
When Did the Incident Happen?
The third ODI was played on October 3, 2026, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, Punjab.
The match itself was an amazing West Indies comeback. India scored 351/7 but West Indies chased down the target in 48.2 overs and won by five wickets. Captain Shai Hope scored an innings of 162 and helped West Indies to their highest run chase in men's ODI cricket.
India had already won the three-match ODI series by winning the first two games, so West Indies' victory prevented a series sweep and gave the visitors momentum heading into the T20I leg.
Fine Has Nothing to Do With Match Result
The penalties were not imposed because India lost or because West Indies won.
But they were only disciplinary sanctions for slow over-rates.
India's much larger fine also does not indicate that the team committed a more serious offence. It simply reflects the fact that India's over-rate shortfall was twice as large as West Indies' after the ICC applied the permitted time allowances.
T20I Series Starts Immediately
The disciplinary issue comes just before the two teams begin their five-match T20I series.
India and West Indies will meet in the first T20I on October 6, 2026, in Lucknow. The T20I series follows India's 2-1 ODI series victory.
For India, the focus will now shift from the over-rate penalty to getting better performance after West Indies' record chase. For West Indies, on the other hand, they will come into the T20Is with a lot of confidence as they did well in the final ODI and will not lose the team again.
