Hardik Pandya was penalised for maintaining slow over-rate for the first time as Mumbai captain after their thrilling win over Punjab in an IPL 2024 match in Mullanpur on Thursday.
Hardik was fined Rs 12 lakh for violating the IPL Code of Conduct pertaining to over-rates. MI fell short behind by 2 overs as they survived a scare from 25-year-old Ashutosh Sharma and successfully defended 192 to register their third win of the season.
Hardik Pandya needed help from the senior members of the team, including former captain Rohit Sharma and pace-bowling hero Jasprit Bumrah, as MI were under a bit of pressure. After having begun wonderfully well with the ball and having PBKS reeling at 14 for 4, MI let slip the control of the proceedings as PBKS’s usual suspects, Shashank Singh (25-ball 41) and Ashutosh Sharma (28-ball 61) kept the Kings in the hunt. At one point when Ashutosh was going all guns blazing, PBKS needed just 28 runs from 4 overs, but Jasprit Bumrah bowled a terrific over to keep things quiet before Gerald Coetzee picked up the big wicket of Ashutosh Sharma and pegged PBKS back.
“As it was his team’s first offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Pandya was fined Rs 12 lakhs,” the BCCI said in a release on Thursday.
MI paid the price for their slow-over rate on the field as well. The visiting side was penalised on Thursday as they were allowed to have only 4 fielders, instead of 5 in the last 2 overs. However, Akash Madhwal kept his composure when in the final over when PBKS needed 13 runs and sealed the deal for MI.
“It was a very good game. Everyone’s nerves got tested. We spoke that the characters would be checked in this game. It is natural you think you are ahead but IPL tends to show that opposition can come back and how,” Hardik Pandya said, expressing relief at the end of a thriller on Thursday.
Jasprit Bumrah, with figures of 3 for 21, and Gerald Coetzee, with figures of 3 for 32, were the heroes of MI’s win as the former champions moved to 7th in the 10-team points table.