IPL 2022 | Mumbai reprimanded for slow over-rate; captain fined Rs 24L

Troubles are not ending for Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians (MI). The five-time champions have been reprimanded for the second time in five games in IPL 2022 for maintaining a slow over-rate. On Wednesday night, the Mumbai unit succumbed to their fifth consecutive defeat in a thrilling, high-scoring encounter against the Punjab Kings.

If this wasn’t enough, it has now been revealed that the beleaguered heavyweights have been found guilty of not completing their quota of 20 overs within the stipulated time.

As per the IPL Code of Conduct for slow over-rates, captain Rohit has been fined Rs 24 Lakhs, while the rest of the team members have been fined either Rs 6 Lakh or 25% of their match fee, depending on which is lower.

The IPL released an official statement following the match that read, “The Mumbai Indians have been fined after they maintained a slow over-rate during their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 match against Punjab Kings at the MCA Stadium, Pune on April 13.

“This was the team’s second offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to a minimum over-rate offences.

The statement added, “Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma was fined Rs 24 lakhs and the rest of the members in the playing eleven were fined Rs 6 lakhs or 25 per cent of their match fee, whichever is lower.”

This is the second time that Mumbai have been found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate this season. They were reprimanded after their season opener against the Delhi Capitals.

Coming back to the game, brilliant knocks from 19-year-olds’ Dewald Brevis (49 off 24 deliveries) and Tilak Varma (36 off 20 deliveries) and a typically stylish 30-ball 43 weren’t enough for Mumbai to claim their maiden win of the season.

Once again, the underperformance of their bowling unit - sans Jasprit Bumrah - led to MI’s demise in what was a thrill-a-minute high-scoring encounter.

On the other hand, the Punjab Kings were once again at their blistering best with the bat as they went hell for leather from the word go.

Their opening duo of Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan led the way. The pair hammered 97 runs between them in just 9.3 overs, with Mayank leading the way with a typically entertaining 32-ball 52.

Dhawan anchored the innings well and ended up with a 50-ball 70. Meanwhile, Jitesh Sharma (30* off 15 deliveries) and Shah Rukh Khan (15 off 6 deliveries) provided the finishing touches.

IPL’s most successful franchise has now lost five on the bounce, and they will next face the Lucknow Supergiants on April 16. But, on the contrary, Punjab have climbed up to the third slot with three wins from five fixtures.