Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya will not lead his team in their opening match of the IPL 2025 season due to a one-match ban imposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This suspension stems from a slow over-rate offense committed during the last match of the IPL 2024 season, where Mumbai Indians faced Lucknow Super Giants.
This decision has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike, as it means that Pandya will miss a crucial start to the season.
The ban was triggered after Mumbai Indians were found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate on three occasions during the previous season.
According to IPL regulations, a captain faces escalating fines for repeated slow over-rate offenses: ₹12 lakh for the first offense, ₹24 lakh for the second, and ₹30 lakh along with a one-match ban for the third offense.
Pandya’s suspension is a direct consequence of this third violation, which occurred in the final league match of the 2024 season.
In Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to step in as captain for the opening match.
Yadav, who has been performing well in T20 formats and is currently the T20I captain of the Indian national team, brings leadership experience that could help guide Mumbai Indians during this challenging time.
Despite the setback, Hardik Pandya remains an integral part of the Mumbai Indians squad. He has been retained for IPL 2025 at a salary of ₹16.35 crore, alongside other key players such as Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crore), Rohit Sharma (₹16.30 crore), and Tilak Varma (₹8 crore).
The team is preparing to enter the IPL 2025 auction with a remaining purse of ₹45 crore, aiming to strengthen their roster after a disappointing performance last season, where they finished at the bottom of the points table.
Pandya’s leadership came under scrutiny during IPL 2024 as Mumbai struggled to find form, winning only four out of ten matches. His performance as both a batsman and bowler was criticized, leading to calls for improvement in the upcoming season.
Despite these challenges, he played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory earlier this year, which showcased his potential and importance to his teams.
As Mumbai Indians gear up for IPL 2025, they will look to bounce back from their previous season’s struggles and reclaim their status as one of the league’s top franchises.
The absence of Pandya in their first match will be felt, but with Suryakumar Yadav at the helm temporarily, they hope to start strong and build momentum throughout the tournament.
