Mumbai: Mumbai Indians’ skipper Hardik Pandya will be absent from the blockbuster clash against CSK due to a suspension carried over from the previous season. Pandya was penalized Rs 30 lakh and handed a one-match suspension following MI’s final group-stage fixture against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024. Consequently, he will only be available from MI’s second match, scheduled against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 29.
Other MI players, including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, were fined 50% of their respective match fees or INR 12 lakh, whichever was lower, for their role in the team’s slow over-rate violations.
“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,” an official IPL media release stated. “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.”
Captaincy in Pandya’s Absence
With Pandya unavailable for MI’s season opener, vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav is the front-runner to lead the side against CSK. Other leadership options within the franchise include Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom bring extensive experience and leadership qualities.
Mumbai Indians’ Performance in IPL 2024
The five-time champions endured a forgettable campaign in IPL 2024, finishing at the bottom of the ten-team points table with only four wins in 14 matches. The team will be keen to make a strong comeback in the upcoming season and regain their dominance in the league.
With the stage set for an exciting season, IPL 2025 promises high-intensity action, thrilling contests, and a battle for supremacy among the best cricketing talents in the world.
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