Hardik Pandya to Miss Mumbai Indians’ Opening Match in IPL 2025
The schedule for IPL 2025 has been announced, with the 18th season set to begin on March 22. The first match will feature Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Meanwhile, one of the tournament’s biggest rivalries—Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs. Mumbai Indians (MI)—will take place at Chepauk Stadium on March 23.
However, Mumbai Indians have suffered an early setback as their captain, Hardik Pandya, will not be available for their opening match against CSK. Let’s find out why.
Why Is Hardik Pandya Banned?
Hardik Pandya has been suspended for one match due to an over-rate violation from IPL 2024. During the previous season, he was found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate on three occasions. As per IPL rules, a captain who commits this offense three times faces a one-match suspension.
Since Mumbai Indians were eliminated from IPL 2024 before he could serve his penalty, Pandya will now serve the suspension in Mumbai’s opening match of IPL 2025 against Chennai Super Kings.
A Disastrous Season for Mumbai Under Pandya’s Captaincy
Hardik Pandya had a disappointing season as Mumbai Indians’ captain last year. Under his leadership:
- Mumbai lost 10 out of 14 matches in the group stage.
- They finished last on the points table with only 4 wins.
- Fans expressed outrage after Rohit Sharma was removed as captain, leading to widespread criticism of Pandya.
Now, with Pandya unavailable for the season opener, Mumbai Indians will need to appoint a stand-in captain for their first match.
The question remains—who will lead Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings in their opening match?
