Hardik Pandya to Miss IPL 2025 Opener Due to Ban. Is Rohit Sharma all set to Lead?
Hardik Pandya has been handed a one-match suspension for Mumbai Indians' opening IPL 2025 match against CSK due to disciplinary issues in IPL 2024, where he was penalized for slow over-rates on three occasions. This ban follows two fines of 30 lakh rupees and will see Suryakumar Yadav likely leading in his absence.
For the IPL 2025 season, Mumbai Indians have been dealt a significant blow as their captain, Hardik Pandya, has been handed a one-match suspension for the opening match. The ban comes as a result of disciplinary issues from IPL 2024, where Pandya was penalized for slow over-rates on three separate occasions.
Two of these infractions resulted in a hefty fine of 30 lakh rupees each, and the third violation has now led to his suspension for the first match of IPL 2025. Mumbai’s opening match is scheduled for March 23 against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). With Pandya absent, the leadership duties will likely fall on vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav.
This suspension adds to the already-existing concerns over Mumbai’s squad, as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has raised doubts about his fitness ahead of the tournament. Despite this setback, the team will look to bounce back and maintain their competitive edge in the high-stakes clash against CSK.
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