The schedule for IPL 2025 has been announced. The 18th season will begin with a clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Meanwhile, the two biggest rival teams, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, will face each other for the first time on March 23 at Chepauk Stadium. However, Mumbai Indians have received a major setback before this high-profile match, as their captain, Hardik Pandya, will not be playing. He has been handed a one-match ban, meaning MI will have to face CSK without him. But why was Hardik banned?
Why Was Hardik Pandya Banned?
Hardik Pandya had a disappointing IPL 2024 season. Under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians lost 10 out of 14 group-stage matches and finished at the bottom of the points table with just four wins. Additionally, after Rohit Sharma was removed from captaincy, Pandya faced severe backlash from fans. To make matters worse, he was penalized in the last match of the season. The reason? Slow over-rate.
During IPL 2024, Hardik was found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate on three occasions. His team failed to complete their overs within the stipulated time thrice, leading to a one-match suspension. However, since Mumbai Indians were already eliminated from the tournament, he couldn’t serve the ban last season. Now, he will have to serve the suspension in IPL 2025, meaning he will miss the first match against Chennai Super Kings.
Also Read- IPL 2025 Full Schedule- Date, Timing, Matches, Venues
MI vs CSK: Two Exciting Clashes in IPL 2025
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have some of the biggest fan bases in the IPL, and their matches are highly anticipated. Recognizing this, BCCI has scheduled two matches between CSK and MI, as well as CSK and RCB. The first MI vs CSK encounter will take place on March 23 at Chepauk, followed by a second clash on April 20 at Wankhede Stadium.
Notably, MI and CSK have faced each other the most times in IPL history. They have met 37 times, including several high-stakes battles in playoffs and finals. This intense rivalry makes them the biggest competitors in the tournament.