Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya found himself in hot water during the recent IPL 2024 clash against Punjab Kings, as he incurred a fine for breaching the Code of Conduct. The issue stemmed from Mumbai’s failure to complete their bowling quota within the stipulated time frame of 20 overs.
As a result, Hardik has been slapped with a fine amounting to INR 12 lakh, a penalty confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an official statement. This marks the first instance of Hardik falling short of the over-rate requirements, hence the relatively moderate fine. However, a recurrence of such an infraction could spell trouble not just for Hardik but also for his teammates in the Mumbai Indians camp.
BCCI gave a statement: “Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Punjab Kings at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on April 18.”
Despite the off-field drama, Mumbai Indians managed to maintain their composure on the field, securing their third victory of the IPL 2024 season. Their triumph came in a challenging chase of 193 runs set by Punjab Kings.
Punjab’s batting innings got off to a rocky start, with opener Prabhsimran Singh departing for a duck in the very first over, leaving the team struggling at 10 runs without loss. The early blows continued to rain down on Punjab Kings as they lost wickets cheaply, with Rossouw, Curran, and Livingstone all falling for single-digit scores.
PBKS batters fought till the end to chase the score
However, amidst the wreckage, Harpreet Singh Bhatia emerged as a pivotal figure, forming a resilient partnership with Shashank Singh, stabilizing the innings to some extent. Yet, despite their efforts, Punjab Kings found themselves reeling at 49 for 5, with Bhatia departing after contributing 13 runs to the cause.
Jitesh Sharma joined Shashank at the crease, followed by Ashutosh Sharma, who combined forces to offer a glimmer of hope for the Punjab Kings. Shashank’s gritty knock of 41 runs off 25 deliveries, supported by Ashutosh’s explosive innings of 61 runs from just 28 balls, injected some momentum into Punjab’s chase. Additionally, Harpreet Brar’s cameo of 21 runs from 20 balls further bolstered their fightback.
Despite their valiant efforts, Punjab Kings ultimately fell short of the target, succumbing to Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack and getting bowled out for 183 runs in the final over, thereby conceding victory to their opponents.
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