Mumbai Indians’ skipper, Hardik Pandya, found himself in hot water during the IPL 2024 clash against Punjab Kings, as he incurred a fine for breaching the Code of Conduct. The issue arose due to Mumbai’s slow over-rate during the match, resulting in a penalty of INR 12 lakh for Pandya. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed this development, highlighting it as the first instance of such a breach by Pandya.
In response to the fine, the BCCI issued a statement, stating, “Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Punjab Kings at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on April 18.”
While this is Pandya’s first offense, a repeat could lead to more severe consequences not only for him but also for other Mumbai Indians players. However, despite the off-field distraction, Mumbai Indians managed to maintain their composure on the field, securing a crucial victory in their IPL 2024 campaign.
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Facing a daunting target of 193 runs set by Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings’ innings didn’t kick off as planned. Losing opener Prabhsimran Singh without a run on the board in the first over set a shaky tone for Punjab. The early blows continued as Rilee Rossouw and Sam Curran were dismissed cheaply, leaving Punjab struggling at 14 for 3.
Hardik Pandya Reprimanded By BCCI, Slapped With Hefty Fine. Here’s Why https://t.co/pruB3HAiqX pic.twitter.com/3VcojNQ7uI
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) April 19, 2024
The woes continued as Liam Livingstone fell early, adding to Punjab’s troubles. However, a partnership between Harpreet Singh Bhatia and Shashank Singh injected some stability into the innings. Despite their efforts, Punjab lost wickets at regular intervals, with Bhatia departing after a brief contribution.
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Jitesh Sharma and Ashutosh Sharma attempted to stabilize the innings, but consistent wicket fallings halted their progress. Ashutosh Sharma’s aggressive fifty and Harpreet Brar’s valuable contribution kept Punjab’s hopes alive, but ultimately, Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack proved too strong. Punjab Kings fell short of the target, being bowled out for 183 runs in the final over.
