AHMEDABAD: In a dramatic IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 encounter between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI), both captains — Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya — were handed hefty fines for slow over-rate violations.
Rain delayed the match shortly after the toss, but updated IPL rules allowed a two-hour extension. However, both teams still failed to complete their overs in time.
For PBKS, this was their second offence of the season, resulting in a ₹24 lakh fine for skipper Shreyas Iyer. Meanwhile, MI breached the over-rate rule for the third time, leading to a ₹30 lakh fine for Pandya.
Additionally, players from both teams were penalized:
- PBKS players: Fined either ₹6 lakh or 25% of match fee (whichever is lower)
- MI players: Fined ₹12 lakh or 50% of match fee
A key development was that Hardik Pandya avoided suspension, despite MI’s third offence. This is due to a rule change in IPL 2025, which removed the automatic one-match ban for captains after three offences — a regulation that cost Pandya a match in 2024.
On the performance front, Shreyas Iyer led from the front, playing a sensational knock of 87 off 41 balls*, guiding PBKS to a historic win and their first IPL final since 2014, while Mumbai Indians bowed out of the tournament.
The IPL 2025 final will now see Punjab Kings face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 3 — guaranteeing a new champion, as neither side has ever lifted the IPL trophy.
