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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Harshit Rana has found himself in the middle of a difficult situation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The pacer has been fined for breaching the code of conduct in a game against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Harshit Rana has been fined 100% of his match fees by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his antics in the game against Delhi Capitals on Monday (29th April). If this was not enough, he has been also banned for one match by the governing body. 

Harshit Rana was banned because of his send-off to Abishek Porel. The fast bowler castled the stump of the batter and was about to do his trademark flying-kiss celebration. However, he stopped in the midst of that as he realised that he was fined he did that to Mayank Agarwal in the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

This means Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers fast bowler Harshit Rana will be missing the game against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The match between the two teams is scheduled to take place on Friday (3rd May) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

This comes as a big blow because Harshit Rana has been one of the key performers for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL 2024. The fast bowler has chipped in with wickets at crucial junctures of the game and has helped his team win the game and bag 2nd position in the points table.

Harshit Rana was magnificent with the ball in the game against Delhi Capitals. He picked two wickets and returned with the figures of 2/28. The fast bowler helped his team win the game as Kolkata Knight Riders sealed the game by 7 wickets to bag their 6th win in the tournament.

Overall in the IPL 2024, Harshit Rana has oozed his class with the ball both in the powerplay as well as the death. In the 8 games so far in the tournament, the fast bowler has bagged 11 wickets. He has been the mainstay of his team's bowling lineup in the tournament.

Indian Premier League's official statement on Harshit Rana

Indian Premier League released an official statement related to the development of Harshit Rana. The statement read that the fast bowler admitted the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. Since this was his second offence, the pacer has been banned for one game.

"Mr Harshit Rana, Bowler, Kolkata Knight Riders has been fined 100 per cent of his match fees and suspended for one match for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during Match 47 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Delhi Capitals at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 29, 2024.

Rana committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 of the IPL's Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding. The player was earlier penalised under the same level and article of the IPL Code of Conduct," read the statement.