Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya is set to be the last skipper in IPL history to face a ban from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for an over-rate offence. The Indian board has revised the playing conditions for the 2025 IPL season, removing match bans for captains and introducing a new penalty system.
During a meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, attended by all IPL captains and team managers, the board decided to adopt the ICC’s demerit points system. Instead of match bans, captains will now receive demerit points based on the severity of the offence, which will remain valid for three years. A ban will only be imposed in extreme cases.
According to ‘Cricbuzz’, in the 2024 IPL season, Hardik Pandya and Delhi Capitals’ skipper Rishabh Pant both received one-match bans after their teams committed a third over-rate offence. As a result, Hardik will miss Mumbai Indians‘ opening match of the 2025 season against Chennai Super Kings.
How will demerit points be determined?
“A Level 1 offence will lead to deduction of 25 to 75 percent match fees with demerit points which will be calculated for next three years. Level 2 offence if serious will result in four demerit points.
“For every four demerit points accumulated, the match referee can impose a penalty, either in the form of a 100 percent fine or additional demerit points. These demerit points could convert into a match ban in the future but for slow overrate there won’t be a match ban,” said a BCCI source told PTI.
Furthermore, ‘Cricbuzz’ reported that the controversial Impact Player rule will be reviewed by the governing council in 2027. A source informed the website that the rule, which allows teams to substitute one player during a match, will remain in effect at least until then.
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