Discipline concerns overshadowed Match 56 of IPL 2025 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Wankhede Stadium, as both Hardik Pandya and Ashish Nehra faced sanctions for breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct.
Hardik Pandya Penalized for Slow Over Rate
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been fined INR 24 lakhs after MI maintained a slow over rate during their clash with GT. Since this was Pandya’s second offence of the season under the IPL’s over-rate regulations, the penalty was more severe.
Additionally, the rest of the MI playing XI, including the Impact Player and any concussion substitutes, were also fined. Each member will pay either INR 6 lakh or 25% of their individual match fees, whichever is lower.
Hardik Reacts After the Loss
Reflecting on the match in the post-match presentation, Pandya acknowledged that MI fell short with the bat:
“It was definitely not a 150-wicket. It was a 175-wicket, we were short by 20-25-30 runs,” Pandya said.
Despite the disappointing outcome, he praised his team’s spirit and criticized critical errors, particularly no-balls:
“Credit to the bowlers – they kept fighting… but the no-balls, including mine, are a crime in T20s, and more often than not, it bites you.”
He also touched upon the conditions impacted by intermittent rain:
“The ground wasn’t wet initially, but after that, the ball kept getting wetter. It was difficult. Rain interruptions made it tougher, but we kept fighting.”
Ashish Nehra Sanctioned for Spirit of the Game Breach
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra also found himself on the wrong side of the law. He was fined 25% of his match fee and received one demerit point for a Level 1 offence under Article 2.20 of the IPL Code of Conduct—conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.
Nehra accepted the Match Referee’s decision, which is final and binding in Level 1 cases. While details of the specific incident were not disclosed, his acceptance of the charge indicates a breach during or around the match proceedings.
Both instances reflect the IPL’s continued emphasis on upholding match discipline and maintaining the game’s tempo and spirit. With the league approaching its business end, teams will need to be extra cautious—on and off the field.
