Explained: Why Hardik Pandya will miss Mumbai Indians' IPL 2025 season opener against CSK

Hardik Pandya led Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.

On Sunday, March 16, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on March 22, with the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Kolkata.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI will enter the season as a team to watch out for. Known for their strong Indian core, the franchise has added lucrative overseas options in Trent Boult and Will Jacks and are seen as a title favorites this season.

They had a forgettable season in IPL 2024, which saw them finish at bottom of the points table. The decision to hand the captaincy to Hardik Pandya backfired for the franchise as the team found themselves in several controversies before the season began.

MI will start their IPL 2025 against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 in Chennai. However, the high-profile clash will take place without MI’s regular captain Hardik Pandya.

Explained: Why Hardik Pandya will miss Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2025 season opener against CSK

Hardik Pandya won’t be playing for MI in their IPL 2025 season opener against CSK as he was handed one-match suspension by the BCCI after MI’s last match of IPL 2024 for his team’s slow over-rate. As MI were found guilty of violating slow over-rate rules three times in the season, Pandya was handed a fine of INR 30 lakhs and one match suspension.

Usually, for the first offence, team’s captain gets fined INR 12 lakhs and INR 24 lakhs for the second offence.

The decision was confirmed by the BCCI in a statement which read, “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 INR 30 lakhs and banned from playing the team’s next match.“

It is to be seen who leads MI in absence of Pandya against CSK in their IPL 2025 season opener.

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