IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya suspended from Mumbai Indians' opening match next season

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been fined Rs 30 lakh and suspended from his team's opening match of the next IPL season due to a slow over-rate offence, marking his third such infraction in IPL 2024.

With Mumbai Indians' 2024 campaign concluding on Friday after their final league game against Lucknow Super Giants, Pandya's suspension will be enforced during the team’s first match next season.

"Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on May 17," stated a media release.

"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 Rs 30 lakh and banned from playing the team’s next match," it further clarified.

In addition to Pandya's suspension and fine, all other members of the team, including 'Impact Player' Rohit Sharma, have been fined either Rs 12 lakh or 50 percent of their respective match fees, whichever amount is lower.

"The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either Rs 12 lakh or 50 percent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser," the release noted.

Although there is no fixed rule, it is typically the team management that covers these fines on behalf of the players, ensuring that the players do not bear the financial burden directly.

The Mumbai Indians faced challenges throughout the season, culminating in this disciplinary action as a result of their slow over-rate offences. As the team looks to regroup for the next season, the focus will likely include ensuring stricter adherence to over-rate regulations to avoid similar penalties in the future.

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(With PTI inputs)