MI captain Hardik Pandya banned for a match and fined Rs. 30 lakh for breaching the IPL code of conduct against LSG

Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya has been handed a one-match suspension and penalized INR 30 lakhs for maintaining a slow over-rate during their 2024 IPL fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, May 17. As a result of this suspension, Pandya will be missing the first match of the IPL 2025 for his team.

Lucknow posted 214-6 after the hosts won the toss and opted to bowl. While captain KL Rahul scored 55 runs off 41 balls, flamboyant southpaw Nicholas Pooran top-scored, amassing 75 runs off just 29 deliveries, which comprised five fours and eight sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 258.62.

Nuwan Thushara and Piyush Chawla were the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai as they finished with three wickets apiece. Chasing 215 runs for a victory, the Men in Blue finished at 196-6 in their 20 overs, thereby losing the contest by 18 runs. Regarding the slow over-rate fine and Hardik Pandya's suspension, an official statement released by the IPL read (via Firstpost):

"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. 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."

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A forgettable IPL 2024 campaign for the Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians side

Ever since he was appointed as the captain of Mumbai Indians, replacing the highly successful Rohit Sharma ahead of this edition of the IPL, Hardik Pandya has faced constant criticism for his actions and decisions on and off the field. From getting booed by the crowd to being blamed for his poor outing with the bat throughout the season, the 30-year-old all-rounder has had a forgettable IPL 2024 campaign.

Adding to the woes, the franchise finished last in the points table among 10 teams, with just four wins and eight points in the 14 league matches they played. Overall, Hardik Pandya registered 216 runs apart from picking up 11 wickets in this edition of the IPL.