Hardik Pandya Fined | BCCI Takes Strict Action | INR 30 Lakh Fine

Hardik Pandya has been fined INR 30 lakh and banned from the next IPL’s first match as BCCI takes strict action against the MI captain. Find out more about the penalty imposed on Hardik Pandya.

Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya just can’t catch a break! Not only did his team have a rough time in IPL 2024, but now he’s facing a ban before the next season even starts. The BCCI dropped the bombshell on Friday night that Hardik won’t be able to play in the first match of the next season because he was too slow in his over rate during the last game against the Lucknow Super Giants.

According to BCCI

“Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on May 17,” BCCI said.

Since Mumbai Indians don’t have any more games this year, the ban will carry over to the first game of next season. This means they’ll have to choose a different captain for their first game next year, even if they want to keep Hardik as their captain for the rest of the season.

Hardik Not The Only One Fined

Hardik is the second player this year to get in trouble for taking too long during the game. Just like Rishabh Pant from Delhi Capitals, Hardik got a one-game suspension for his third offense. He also had to pay a fine of ₹30 lakh, while his teammates, including the Impact Player from the last game, were fined ₹12 lakh or half of their match fees.

“As it was his team’s third offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over rate offences, Pandya was fined INR 30 lakhs and banned from playing the team’s next match. The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 12 lakhs or 50 percent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser,” BCCI said.

Pandya’s Performance This Season

Pandya didn’t have a great season as captain and player for MI this year. He only scored 218 runs in 14 matches, which isn’t very good. He did manage to get 11 wickets, but his economy rate was really high at 10.75. As a leader, he didn’t do a great job because the team only won four out of 14 matches and finished last.

Pandya was brought back in the MI set-up amid much fanfare but the team only won four games out of 14 under his leadership.”It was quite difficult. We did not play good quality cricket, eventually cost us the whole season,” Pandya said after MI’s 18-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants.

“It’s a professional world. Have to always come out and put our best foot forward. But yes, as a group we could not play quality cricket or smart cricket.”