IPL 2025: Blow for Mumbai Indians! Hardik Pandya ruled out of....

Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya is all set to miss the first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The all-rounder won't be featuring in the game against rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which will be taking place on 23rd March at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

This was because Hardik was penalized by the BCCI in the last season for maintaining a slow over-rate. He was handed a one-match ban after Mumbai Indians' last league game during the IPL 2024 against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

This was the third time Hardik Pandya was fined in the season, and hence, it resulted in an INR 30 Lakh fine and a one-match ban. Along with the skipper, other players in Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were also fined 50 percent or INR 12 lakh of their respective match fees, whichever was lower.

Hardik Pandya was fined and was banned from playing the team’s next match

The IPL governing Council released the official statement confirming the fines and the ban. The press release read:

“Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on May 17.

“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 ₹30 lakhs and banned from playing the team’s next match."

Hardik Pandya will be available for the second game of the Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans

This means that Hardik will be available for the second game of the Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans. The match will be played on March 29 at the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.

This will come as a blow to Mumbai Indians as they not only will be without their skipper for the first game but also a quality all-rounder. It surely will disturb the balance of the team but considering it's a long tournament, it won't be a deciding factor.

One among Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav to captain Mumbai Indians in the opening fixture of IPL 2025 against Chennai Super Kings

With Hardik Pandya set to miss the first game, the question now remains, who will be leading the team? It is learned that Rohit Sharma, who guided the franchise to five titles, is also in the race to lead the team in the opening fixture.

Also, Jasprit Bumrah and India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, will be the options as well. Mumbai Indians are the joint most successful franchise in the league. They didn't have a great outing last year as they finished last on the table last year and now would be keen to make a strong comeback.

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