Why Will Hardik Pandya Be The Only Captain Banned For Slow Over-Rate In IPL 2025?

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) captain, Hardik Pandya, will miss the franchise’s first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 due to a slow over-rate ban he picked up last season. The ace all-rounder, however, could turn out to be the only captain to be banned for a slow-over rate offence in the IPL 2025.

According to a report published by Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have revised the playing conditions for the IPL 2025, with captains no longer facing match bans for slow over-rate offences. Captains will now be handed demerit points, which will carry over for a period of three years. The ban will only happen in extreme cases. 

"The captain will be penalised with demerit points but will not face a match ban for the slow over-rate. The Level 1 offence will be charged 25 to 75 percent match fees with demerit points which will be calculated for next three years. "A Level 2 offence, if exactly deemed serious, will result in four demerit points,” reported Cricbuzz.

"For every 4 demerit points accumulated, the match referee can impose a penalty, either in the form of a 100 percent fine or additional demerit points. These demerit points could potentially lead to a match ban in the future. But for slow overrate it won't be a match ban (immediately)."

The Impact Player Rule will also carry on at least till the 2027 season. "The IPL will continue to implement the Impact Player rule, allowing teams to substitute one player during a match, at least until 2027," a source told Cricbuzz.