Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been slapped with a fine of Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their IPL 2025 encounter against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This marks the inaugural slow over-rate penalty of the IPL 2025 season, as officially confirmed following Mumbai Indians’ 36-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans.
The fine was levied under Article 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which addresses minimum over-rate offences. This was the team’s first offence of the season, highlighting the stringent enforcement of the new playing conditions introduced for IPL 2025.
Pandya’s history with slow over-rates is notable; he missed Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2025 opener against Chennai Super Kings due to a ban carried over from the last match of IPL 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants. Mumbai Indians suffered a four-wicket loss in that opening game against CSK.
The IPL’s governing council has introduced new playing conditions for the 2025 season, specifically targeting slow over-rate offences. The BCCI announced, “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 which will remain valid for 36 months.”
Reflecting on the carry-over of slow over-rate bans to the next season, Pandya expressed his views at a Mumbai Indians press conference: “That is out of my control. Last year what occurred is a part of the sport. What happened is that we bowled the last over 2-2.5 minutes late.” He further elaborated, “At that time, I was not aware of the consequences. It was unfortunate but rules say it so I have to go with the process. Whether the penalty should continue in the next season or not, it is on the higher authorities.”
Currently, Mumbai Indians find themselves at the ninth position in the IPL 2025 standings, yet to secure a point. They are set to face the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, in their next match at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, March 31.