Mumbai Indians' skipper Hardik Pandya has once again found himself in the spotlight, this time for a costly breach of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. The dynamic all-rounder has been slapped with a ₹12 lakh fine for maintaining a slow over-rate during Mumbai Indians’ clash against Gujarat Titans on March 29, 2025. The penalty has reignited discussions about his availability for the upcoming high-stakes encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 31 at Wankhede Stadium.

Hardik Pandya Penalised for Over-Rate Violation – What Went Wrong?

The IPL governing body is known for its strict enforcement of over-rate regulations, ensuring that teams maintain the required pace of play. However, Mumbai Indians failed to adhere to these guidelines in their recent fixture against Gujarat Titans, leading to a financial penalty for their captain.

In an official statement, the IPL confirmed the infraction:

"Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 9 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad."

It further added:

"As this was his team’s first offense of the season under Article 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offenses, Pandya was fined INR 12 lakh."

While this is Mumbai Indians' first slow over-rate violation of the season, it has sparked widespread debate over whether Pandya might face suspension in the coming matches.

Why Did Hardik Pandya Miss the IPL 2025 Opener?

Hardik Pandya’s absence from Mumbai Indians’ season opener against Chennai Super Kings left many fans puzzled. However, the reason behind his absence was a penalty carried over from IPL 2024.

During the previous season, Mumbai Indians committed multiple slow over-rate violations. Under the 2024 rules, a captain who oversaw three slow over-rate infractions in a season was automatically suspended for one match. This penalty carried over to IPL 2025, forcing Pandya to miss MI’s highly anticipated opening match against CSK. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav took over as captain, but Mumbai Indians ended up on the losing side.

IPL 2025: What Are the New Over-Rate Rules?

To prevent frequent captain suspensions, the IPL governing body introduced a revised Code of Conduct for the 2025 season. This season, captains will no longer face an automatic suspension after multiple over-rate violations. Instead, the league has adopted a demerit points system that penalises repeated infractions over an extended period.

According to the BCCI’s official statement:

"Effective this season, a new Code of Conduct will be implemented from the TATA IPL 2025 season, introducing a demerit points system and suspension points that will remain valid for 36 months."

The key takeaways from the updated rules include:

Captains will receive monetary fines instead of immediate suspensions for over-rate violations.

Every slow over-rate offense will accumulate demerit points.

If a team reaches four demerit points, heavier fines or possible suspensions may be enforced.

These demerit points will remain active for 36 months, meaning past offenses can influence future penalties.

This major policy shift ensures that captains do not miss crucial matches due to minor infractions but keeps them accountable for repeated breaches over time.

Will Hardik Pandya Be Available for MI vs. KKR?

Despite the recent fine, Hardik Pandya is set to lead Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 31. Since this is MI’s first slow over-rate offense of IPL 2025, the penalty is limited to a financial fine, and no immediate suspension has been enforced.

However, the stakes are high. If Mumbai Indians commit further over-rate violations, Pandya could accumulate demerit points, leading to more severe consequences later in the tournament.

What This Means for Mumbai Indians Going Forward

While Pandya’s availability for the KKR match is confirmed, Mumbai Indians must be cautious moving forward. The new demerit points system means that repeated slow over-rate violations could result in heavy fines, leadership changes, and potential suspensions in critical matches.

With Mumbai Indians already facing pressure to deliver strong performances, the team will need to ensure they maintain the required over-rate in upcoming games. If not, they risk losing their captain at a crucial stage in the season.

For now, MI fans can breathe easy knowing that Hardik Pandya will take the field against KKR. However, both the skipper and the team must remain mindful of their over-rate management to avoid further penalties down the road.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on IPL 2025 and Mumbai Indians’ journey this season!