Why is Hardik Pandya suspended for Mumbai Indians' IPL 2025 opener against CSK?

Franchise Mumbai Indians' (MI) captain Hardik Pandya is likely to be absent in his team’s opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23. Notably, the prolific all rounder was slapped with a one-match suspension carried over from the IPL 2024 edition.

The mega cricket carnival is set to begin on March 22, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently released the schedule for the 18th edition of the most anticipated tournament. The first face-off, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will kick off the season at their home home, Eden Gardens facing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Thereafter, on March 23, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will battle Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the afternoon, and then the most looked forward and awaited game, MI vs. CSK clash, to be played in the evening, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

As per the IPL Code of Conduct, a third violation results in a one-match ban. Following that, Hardik’s ban from the game stems from MI’s final league-stage match of IPL 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he was chastened for his team’s slow-over rate offence for the third time in the season. And since MI did not break through further in the tournament, the ban carries over to IPL 2025.

“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. The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 12 lakhs or 50 percent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser," said a statement released by the BCCI confirming the penalty.

Also Check: IPL 2025 Schedule: IPL Schedule Date, Time, Fixtures, Teams, Venue details announced

Pandya was fined twice in IPL 2024 before ban

Earlier in IPL 2024, for the breach, Hardik Pandya had been fined ₹12 lakh for MI’s first slow-over rate infraction against Punjab Kings and faced another penalty for a second offence during MI’s away game against LSG. With the third offence leading to suspension, unfortunately, MI will be playing without their skipper for the highly foreseen clash against CSK as they begin their 2025 campaign.