Mumbai Indians' skipper Hardik Pandya has been hit with a fine after his team fell short on the over-rate during Match No. 9 of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Pandya has been fined INR 12 lakh for this violation. An official statement noted, “Since this was the first offence of the season for his team under Article 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which addresses minimum over-rate issues, Pandya was fined INR 12 lakh."

In that match, the Mumbai Indians lost to the Gujarat Titans by 36 runs, unable to chase down a target of 197.

Previously, Hardik Pandya missed the Mumbai Indians' IPL 2025 opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to a ban stemming from a slow over-rate violation in MI's last IPL 2024 game against Lucknow Super Giants. The Mumbai Indians also lost that match against CSK by four wickets.

This marks the first instance in IPL 2025 where a captain has been fined for a slow over-rate.

Change in the slow over-rate rule

Before the start of the IPL 2025 season, the governing council made some updates to the playing rules, particularly concerning slow over-rate violations.

“The TATA IPL 2025 season will see the introduction of a new Code of Conduct, which includes a demerit points system and suspension points that will be applicable for 36 months,” the BCCI announced in an official statement.

Prior to the season kicking off, Hardik Pandya shared his thoughts on whether the slow over-rate penalties should carry over into the next season.

During a press conference held by the Mumbai Indians, Hardik remarked, "That's beyond my control. What happened last year is part of the game. We ended up bowling the last over 2-2.5 minutes late."

"I wasn't aware of the repercussions at that moment. It was unfortunate, but the rules are in place, so I have to accept that. Whether the penalties should extend into the next season is up to the higher-ups," he continued.

As for the Mumbai Indians, they currently sit in ninth place in the standings with no points. Their next match is against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at Wankhede Stadium on Monday, March 31.

Read Also: Eden Curator Responds to Pitch Controversy: "BCCI Rules Overrule Rahane’s Request"

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!