The captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI), Hardik Pandya, has been fined INR 12 lakh for continuing to bowl slowly during the exciting match on Thursday, April 18, in Mullanpur, against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).
According to the IPL’s Code of Conduct regarding minimum over-rate infractions, this was the former five-time winners’ first offense of the season. Mumbai was penalized for keeping a sluggish over rate during the exciting match as they were forced to keep five fielders within the circle for the final couple overs.
Punjab, chasing a 193-run target at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, was unable to fully capitalize on Mumbai’s disadvantage, as the Sam Curran-led team was dismissed with five balls remaining.
Curran had won the toss and chosen to field first earlier in the day. The South African pacer Kagiso Rabada gave Punjab the early breakthrough by getting rid of Ishan Kishan in the third over. However, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav’s 81-run partnership off 57 balls set the stage for the visitors. Suryakumar and Tilak Varma put together a 49-run partnership off of just 28 balls after the Indian captain left the field for a 25-ball 36. Eventually, after smashing seven fours and three sixes in 53 balls, the Mumbai batsman was removed. Mumbai reached a dangerous score of 192/7 in their 20 overs because of some powerful strokes from Tim David, Hardik and Tilak’s undefeated eighteen-ball forty-four.
Punjab, in response, had the worst possible start to their innings as they lost four wickets in the third over. Punjab lost six batsmen in the first ten overs, and the wickets kept falling. Shashank Singh had a solid hand of 41 from 25 balls before Jasprit Bumrah removed him.
Also read: IPL 2024 Qualification Scenarios: How Can the Punjab Kings Qualify for the Playoffs After Losing to MI?
The seasoned bowler took three wickets in his four-over performance, giving up nothing and playing absolutely great lines and lengths. Ashutosh Sharma, who batted at No. 8 and blasted 61 off 28 balls while hitting two fours and seven sixes, came to the rescue for the struggling Kings. To put his club within striking distance, the right-handed hitter produced some incredible hits.
But he was out when only 25 runs remained, and Punjab’s lower-order hitters were unable to cross the finish line. Mumbai moved up to No. 7 in the points standings after defeating Punjab by nine runs in a close game, leaving Punjab at No. 9.
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