BCCI swiftly penalizes Hardik Pandya for over rate violation following PBKS vs MI IPL match, imposes hefty fine | Cricket

Mumbai Indians’ captain, Hardik Pandya, found himself in hot water after his team was penalized for a slow over rate during their IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings. The Indian all-rounder was fined ₹12 lakh for the offense, which almost cost his team the game.

The slow over rate forced Mumbai Indians to keep only four fielders outside the inner ring in the last two overs of the match, instead of the usual five. Despite the setback, Pandya held his nerve and bowled a crucial penultimate over, conceding only four runs and taking a key wicket.

The match saw twists and turns, with Punjab Kings’ lower-order batsman, Kagiso Rabada, hitting a six off the first ball of the final over. However, a brilliant fielding effort by Mohammad Nabi led to Rabada being run out, securing a nine-run victory for Mumbai Indians.

The game also saw a standout performance from Ashutosh Sharma, who played a blistering innings of 61 off 28 balls for Punjab Kings. However, his dismissal in the 18th over turned the tide in favor of Mumbai Indians.

Despite the win, Mumbai Indians will be looking to improve their over rate discipline to avoid further penalties in the future. The incident serves as a reminder to all teams to adhere to the IPL’s Code of Conduct to maintain the integrity of the game.