Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI), was fined INR 12 lakhs for keeping a slow over rate against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 18th Indian Premier League (IPL) at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
On March 30, the host team defeated the five-time IPL champions by a score of 36 runs. The right-handed all-rounder had previously missed their team’s opening game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), when Suryakumar Yadav was captain. Due to the same offence, the Baroda batter was suspended from the Mumbai Indians’ 2024 IPL matchup with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
According to the official announcement, Pandya was fined INR 12 lakhs because this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which deals with minimum over-rate offences.
The governing council amended the regulations pertaining to slow over-rate offences prior to the 2025 Indian Premier League season. With effect from the TATA IPL 2025 season, “a new Code of Conduct will be implemented with effect from this season, introducing a demerit points system and suspension points which will remain valid for 36 months,” the BCCI stated.
Hardik Pandya on the slow over rate fine rule: “I believe that is something beyond my control.”
“I believe I have no influence over that. I believe we bowled a minute and a half or two late last year, which was a part of the sport. I was unaware of the potential repercussions at the very moment. It is the rule, which is regrettable. I believe it is up to the higher authorities to decide whether or not to implement this rule again next year. According to NDTV Sports, Pandya stated during the MI-hosted press conference prior to the start of the 2025 Indian Premier League that “they can see into it, and how it can be done.”
The MI team, meanwhile, is in ninth place with 0 points and will play the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 31.