Hardik Pandya won’t be featuring in MI's IPL 2025 opener due to over-rate offence.
The BCCI has reportedly done away with the rule of banning captains for over-rate offences in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Instead, they will be handed demerit points.
According to a PTI report, the decision was taken at the captains' meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday (March 20).
Earlier, a captain faced a one-match suspension and a fine of Rs 30 lakhs for a third offence of slow over-rate.
As a result of the previous rule, Hardik Pandya won’t be featuring in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) IPL 2025 campaign opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on March 23. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the five-time champions.
Rishabh Pant was also suspended for a match last season when he was captaining the Delhi Capitals (DC). The wicketkeeper-batter will lead Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) this year after becoming the most expensive player in IPL history, worth 27 crore.
"A Level 1 offence will lead to deduction of 25 to 75 percent match fees with demerit points which will be calculated for next three years. Level 2 offence if serious will result in four demerit points,” a BCCI source said, as quoted by PTI.
"For every four demerit points accumulated, the match referee can impose a penalty, either in the form of a 100 percent fine or additional demerit points. These demerit points could convert into a match ban in the future but for slow overrate there won't be a match ban," the source added.
The BCCI also lifted the ban on using saliva to shine cricket balls. This rule was introduced back in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But after the captains expressed their reservations, the BCCI did away with the regulation.
The IPL 2025 season is scheduled to kick-off on Saturday (March 22), with the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens.
(With PTI Inputs)