Hardik Pandya fined Rs 24 lakh for slow over rate, on verge of being banned

Mumbai Indians' woes continue to mount as they faced their seventh defeat in the ongoing IPL season, this time against Lucknow Super Giants. Captain Hardik Pandya and his team were slapped with fines for maintaining a slow over rate, marking their second offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct.

Hardik received a hefty fine of INR 24 lakh, while each playing XI member incurred a penalty of INR 6 lakh or 25% of their match fee, whichever is lesser. This setback adds to the team's struggles, which have been a mix of off-field controversies and on-field challenges throughout the season.

On the field, Mumbai Indians' batting woes were apparent in their latest match against Lucknow Super Giants. Despite being asked to bat first, they could only muster 144/7, with Hardik Pandya departing for a first-ball duck.

 Even Indian captain Rohit Sharma couldn't salvage the innings, managing just 4 runs off five deliveries. These failures underscore the team's lack of consistency and reliance on key players, especially Hardik, whose form with both bat and ball has been under scrutiny.

Hardik Pandya's individual performance reflects Mumbai Indians' struggles this season. Despite being named India's vice-captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup, he has failed to deliver consistently for his IPL franchise.

 With just six wickets in 10 appearances and an economy rate of 11, his bowling has been far from impactful. Moreover, his batting hasn't fared much better, with no half-centuries and a total of 197 runs at a strike rate of 150.38 in 10 innings. These statistics highlight the pressing need for improvement within the Mumbai Indians camp if they are to turn their season around.