Hardik Pandya's Shocking BCCI Punishment: What This Means for IPL's Future!
- Ana
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 22
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Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya has been suspended for one match for the IPL 2025 season opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) because of his team's slow over-rate breach in IPL 2024. This follows after MI committed their third over-rate infringement in their last game of the last season against Lucknow Super Giants, where they did not finish their overs within the stipulated time. In addition to the suspension, Pandya has been fined ₹30 lakh and will not play the highly anticipated match on March 23, 2025. Suryakumar Yadav will replace him as the MI captain.
Pandya apologized for the incident, saying that he did not know the possible repercussions of the over-rate breach at the time. He added, "It's unfortunate, but it's the rule," and questioned whether the same fines would be levied in subsequent seasons.
In response to this incident, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has amended its policy on slow over-rate offenses, marking a change in how such violations will be addressed in the future. Pandya will be the last of a breed of captains to be docked a match ban for slow over-rate since the BCCI has ruled from IPL 2025 that demerit points will replace suspensions for such offenses. They will build over three years with the gravity of the offense leading to the allocation of points. Level 1 offense would attract a fine and demerit points, while Level 2, being a serious offense, would attract four demerit points.
The alteration seeks to guarantee the stability of leadership in teams during the tournament because the match bans tend to destabilize team cohesion. Although there will be monetary sanctions, the elimination of the match bans is likely to see captains and players concentrate on not picking up demerit points. The new guidelines conform to global cricket standards as laid out by the ICC, symbolizing the attempt by the BCCI to bring its disciplinary mechanism up to date.
Pandya will be back soon to play for Mumbai Indian's next game of the season against Gujarat Titans on March 29, 2025.
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