NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya’s IPL 2024 campaign concluded on a sour note as his team suffered their 10th defeat on Friday night.
Adding to the disappointment, Pandya has been banned from playing in his team’s next match after Mumbai Indians were found guilty of an over-rate offence during their final match of the season against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium. Pandya has also been fined Rs 30 lakh.
"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 lakh and banned from playing the team’s next match,” the IPL stated after LSG beat MI by 18 runs.
The rest of the MI playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each fined either Rs 12 lakh or 50 percent of their respective match fees, whichever was lesser.
Pandya is the second player to receive a one-match suspension in IPL 2024 for an over-rate offense.
Earlier this week, Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant had to sit out from his team’s crucial match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru due to a similar suspension. Despite lodging an appeal against the ruling, citing various reasons for the delay, the decision was upheld.
1/9:Mumbai Indians finish bottom after losing to Lucknow Super Giants
<p>Mumbai Indians finish bottom after losing to Lucknow Super Giants</p>AFP
2/9:Close Contest
<p>Lucknow Super Giants defeated the five-time champion Mumbai Indians by 18 runs. Despite both teams being out of playoff contention, the match turned out to be a thrilling contest.</p>AFP
3/9:Mighty Total
<p>Lucknow Super Giants posted a formidable total of 214-6. Nicholas Pooran scored an electrifying 75 off 29 balls, while captain Lokesh Rahul contributed a steady 55 off 41 deliveries.</p>AFP
4/9:Pooran and Rahul's Fireworks
<p>Pooran and Rahul combined for a crucial 109-run partnership in just 7.2 overs. Pooran hit eight sixes and five fours before getting out, giving Nuwan Thushara his second wicket.</p>AFP
5/9:Badoni's cameo
<p>After Rahul's dismissal, Ayush Badoni (22 off 10 balls) and Krunal Pandya (12 off seven balls) added vital runs, ensuring Lucknow's total crossed the 200-run mark.</p>AFP
6/9:Rohit Sharma Leads the Charge
<p>Mumbai's chase began strongly with impact substitute Rohit Sharma scoring 68 off 38 balls, forming an 88-run opening stand with Dewald Brevis (23).</p>AFP
7/9:Lucknow's Fielding
<p>Mumbai's middle order collapsed to 120-5 by the 15th over. Notable was Ravi Bishnoi's brilliant juggling catch to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav for a duck.</p>AFP
8/9:Fightback by Naman Dhir
<p>Naman Dhir scored an unbeaten 62 off 28 balls with five sixes and four boundaries, but Mumbai fell short, finishing at 196-6.</p>AFP
9/9:Season Wrap-Up
<p>Mumbai Indians ended last on the table with four wins in 14 matches. Lucknow Super Giants finished sixth with a balanced 7-7 record.</p>AFPGiven that the match against LSG was MI’s last of the season, Pandya will likely miss the team’s opening match of the next season as part of his punishment.
It has been a nightmare season for the five-time champions, who managed to win only four of their 14 league matches, finishing at the bottom of the table. The team's struggles culminated in their final match, where they failed to chase down LSG’s target, ending their campaign on a disappointing note.
