Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya faced a major penalty from the BCCI after his team was found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during their IPL match against Gujarat Titans. This match, affected by rain and decided through the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method, ended with MI losing to GT by three wickets.
The game, played at the Wankhede Stadium, extended well past midnight due to multiple rain interruptions. As this was Mumbai Indians’ second offence of the season related to slow over rate, Hardik Pandya was fined Rs 24 lakh by the IPL authorities. According to the league’s rules, this penalty applies when teams fail to complete their overs in the allotted time more than once during a season
Team Penalised Alongside Captain
Along with Pandya, the rest of the Mumbai Indians squad, including the impact player and concussion substitute, also faced penalties. Each of them was fined either Rs 6 lakh or 25 per cent of their match fees, whichever amount was lower. These fines are part of the IPL’s efforts to ensure that it matches progress within the scheduled time.
The rule aims to discourage delays and maintain the smooth flow of the game. This has become a growing concern in recent seasons, leading the governing body to take stricter action against repeat offenders. The IPL has been closely monitoring teams’ over rates, and second-time violations trigger larger penalties for the captain and the rest of the players
Ashish Nehra Fined for Misconduct
The Gujarat Titans’ head coach Ashish Nehra was also penalised during the same match, although for a different reason. He was fined 25 per cent of his match fees and received one demerit point for violating the IPL Code of Conduct. His offence falls under Level 1 of the Code, which involves behaviour contrary to the spirit of the game.
While the exact nature of his conduct was not specified in the IPL’s official release, Nehra was seen visibly upset during the rain-hit match. He engaged in several animated conversations with the on-field umpires, which may have contributed to the decision. Nehra accepted the match referee’s decision and did not contest the penalty. For Level 1 breaches, the referee’s verdict is considered final and binding under IPL rules.
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