Hardik Pandya has been handed a one-match ban after for maintaining a slow overrate in the 67th match of IPL season 17 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday (May 17). Since the game against LSG was Mumbai's last fixture of the season, therefore, Hardik will miss Mumbai's first game at the start of the next season (if he is retained or bought back at the mega auction, in case Mumbai release him).
Notably, Hardik was penalised (Rs 12 lakh) for the first time when Mumbai Indians failed to complete their overs in time against Punjab Kings in the 33rd game of IPL 2024. His second slow over-rate offence came in the 48th fixture when Mumbai travelled to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow to face KL Rahul's LSG.
"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 INR 30 lakhs and banned from playing the team’s next match," said an IPL media release.
"The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 12 lakhs or 50 percent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser," the release added.
The ban on Hardik is like salt to his wounds as the star allrounder endured a tough time in the 17th season. Hardik looked a pale shadow of himself and couldn't lead Mumbai into the playoffs.
The 30-year-old claimed 11 wickets in 14 games at an expensive economy rate of 10.75. He didn't look anywhere close to his vintage best with the willow in hand either as he aggregated just 216 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 143.04.
Hardik's performance and his calls as captain adversely impacted Mumbai's campaign as they finished their season at the bottom of the table with just four wins.
