Hardik Pandya Is Banned for the First Match of IPL 2025, New Captain For MI?

With the fixtures being announced for the Upcoming IPL 2025 18th season. MI is going to grounds without its skipper in their season first match of the Indian Premier league. The five times champions will enter the grounds without their captain Hardik Pandya in the first match following their last season’s rule break.

The fixtures for the 18th edition of the IPL has been announced and the season is kicking off from 22 March in Kolkata. The first match of this season is going to be a clash between the last champion KKR and RCB. Mumbai Indians will play its first match on 23rd March at MA Chidambaram  stadium.

However, This season MI will be the only team that would enter the tournament without their leader on their front. Following last year one match ban for slow over penalty, Hardik is banned to be part of the opening match for the Mumbai Indians and would join the team in the following Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 Schedule.

Why will Hardik Pandya miss the season opening match?

BCCI Banned Pandya from playing the 2025 IPL season’s first match and also fined him a hefty amount of 30 lakhs rupees, as per BCCI Hardik would not be able to play the first match of the next IPL 2025 season as he was convicted for maintaining the slower over rate for the entire reason. 

This decision came after the continuation of the slower over rate in the last LSG match for the group stage matches. As by the time the decision came out, the group stage concluded with no further matches for MI to play in the IPL 2024 season. Following this decision the fate for MI Skipper was decided, that Hardik will not be part of the first match.

Who will be captain for MI in the 1st Match against CSK?

Following the Ban of Hardik Pandya from the first match,all fans are wondering who would bear the skipper’s responsibility for the match.

After his exit, there are chances the  team’s captain responsibility can go to the hands of  Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. These three are the perfect contenders to lead the team in their opening match for the season. It would be interesting to see what franchise would decide about who will lead the team.

Rohit Sharma being removed from the leadership might get back to the team as captain for the first season. As last year his absence as a captain made his fans boo Hardik Pandya and that slightly affected team dynamics for the season. Following the recent Border Gavaskar trophy  Bumrah can also be the new captain or following T20 Captainship under Surya and his winning performance he could also lead the team. Lets see who gets in the shoes of Hardik.

What is the BCCI Slow Over Rate Rule ?

According to the IPL Code of Conduct regarding minimum over-rate violations, if a team falls short of the required over-rate for three consecutive matches, the players are subjected to a fine of ₹12 lakh or 50% of their match fees, whichever is lower.

Mumbai Indians were charged for the same slow over rate penalty as they failed to keep the over rate as per scheduled time. And after their third slow-over-rate offense for the 2024 season they were charged with financial penalties. Out of which Hardik was charged an amount of 30 lakhs and The rest of the remaining playing XI team even the “impact player” Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh or 50% of their respective match fees, whichever is lower. 

Along with this Hardik was banned for the next IPL match he plays, and that same continues in the IPL 2025, Where he will not feature against Chennai Super Kings.