IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya set to miss Mumbai's opening clash against CSK

The much-awaited schedule of IPL 2025 has been officially released. 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders will open the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens on March 22. Meanwhile, the fans are set to be treated with the "El Clasico" early in the tournament as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will collide on March 23. Slated to clash in the third fixture of the season, the teams with five titles each will hit Chepauk. However, Mumbai Indians will be missing one of their key players in the match. Hardik Pandya, who claimed MI's captaincy last season, will not be able to open the season with his team.

The unavailability stems not from any injury or Pandya's choice but a sanction that emerged in IPL 2024.  Hardik Pandya, the MI skipper, was handed a fine of INR 30 lakh after Mumbai India played its final group-stage match of IPL 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants due to slow over-rate penalty. In addition to the financial penalty, he was also suspended for the first game of IPL 2025. As a result, he will only be available for Mumbai’s second fixture against Gujarat Titans on March 29. Meanwhile, other Mumbai Indians players, including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, were also penalized, with each being fined either 50 percent of their match fee or INR 12 lakh, whichever was lower. 

“Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on May 17,” an official IPL media release had stated. "As it was his team’s third offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over rate offences, Pandya was fined ₹30 lakh and banned from playing the team’s next match,” it added.

With Hardik Pandya sidelined for the opening game, Mumbai Indians will need to appoint a stand-in captain against CSK. Former captain Rohit Sharma, who has led MI to five IPL titles, is a strong contender for the role. Other possibilities include India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom were retained by the franchise ahead of the season. Bumrah is anticipated to recover from his back injury well ahead of IPL 2025. The first double-header of IPL 2025 is scheduled for March 23, featuring two matchups, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, followed by the blockbuster MI vs CSK showdown.