Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been fined heavily after his team’s defeat at the Wankhede Stadium. He has been fined heavily for maintaining a slow over rate in the match against RCB.
Royal Challengers Bangalore won their first title in 2025, ending their 18-season long drought. After winning their maiden title, the Rajat Patidar-led RCB team has made a great start to this IPL season.
Mumbai Indians have suffered another defeat after the match between RCB and MI this season ended in eighth place, while RCB maintained their hold on the third position with three wins and 6 points from four matches.
Hardik Pandya fined for slow over rate in MI vs RCB match
Hardik Pandya has not had a good season as the captain of Mumbai Indians team. He could not control his bowlers to the best of their ability, as MI were bowled out for 240 runs in their 20 overs. Hardik himself bowled a better spell and also took the important wicket of Virat Kohli.
However, the MI captain has been fined for maintaining a slow over rate in the game against Royal Challengers. This was the team’s first offense of the season, and they were found guilty of breaching Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct. A heavy fine of Rs 12 lakh has been imposed on him as per the rules.
Mumbai Indians are struggling with the ball, as Jasprit Bumrah has not got any wicket after four matches in IPL 2026. In this match too, Hardik Pandya was forced to rethink his approach, as the MI bowlers continued to take a beating.
Hardik Pandya’s overall role with both bat and ball for MI
Hardik Pandya once again took the new ball for Mumbai Indians. When the RCB batsmen dismantled the attack at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the captain led from the front and bowled some crucial overs.
He took the important wicket of Virat Kohli, breaking the second wicket partnership between the experienced star and the RCB captain. Virat was out after scoring 50 runs, while Hardik ended his spell with 39 runs and one wicket.
He came to bat at number. 5, after a double-wicket over where MI lost two of their left-handed batsmen, Ryan Rickelton and Tilak Verma. Pandya made a 47-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav and then scored 40 runs in just 22 balls before bowling the ball towards third man.
Tim David has been fined 25% of his match fee against MI
RCB’s star batsman Tim David once again played a very good innings while making an important contribution with the bat. He scored 34 runs at a strike rate of over 200. David has been important for RCB in the death overs.
Tim David has also been fined 25% of his match fee and accrued one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials. David has been found to have violated Article 2.4 of the IPL Code of Conduct. This is related to disobeying the umpire’s instructions during the game.
Also read: ‘Virat Kohli was injured and the innings was slow’: Former KKR star’s bold decision on MI vs batsmen’s innings