1. BCCI to Penalize LSG Captain Rishabh Pant for Slow Over Rate Despite Victory Over MI
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is known not only for its electrifying cricketing action but also for its strict adherence to rules and regulations. In the latest development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to take disciplinary action against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant for a slow over rate during their 12-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025.
Even though Lucknow celebrated an important victory, the match was marred by Pant’s failure to ensure the timely completion of 20 overs, a recurring issue that the BCCI is now taking very seriously.
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2. Pant Faces INR 12 Lakh Fine for First Offence
According to IPL’s Code of Conduct, Rishabh Pant has committed a Level 1 offence, which involves the slow over rate of a team during a match. For the first such instance in a season, the captain is fined INR 12 lakh. LSG couldn’t complete their 20 overs within the stipulated time limit, triggering this penalty.
Due to this delay, as per the playing conditions, the team was only allowed to keep four fielders outside the 30-yard circle during the final over instead of the usual five. This restriction was implemented to discourage teams from delaying play intentionally.
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3. Policy Change: No More Bans for Repeat Offenders
Earlier, if a team repeated the slow over rate offence three times in a season, the captain would face a match ban. This rule had once led to Hardik Pandya, former MI skipper, missing a game due to repeated over rate violations. However, BCCI has now scrapped that policy, meaning captains won’t face suspension even for repeated offences.
The new regulation emphasizes financial penalties and in-game fielding restrictions to maintain the pace of the match. While the rule change may protect players from missing key games, it also raises concerns about whether financial punishment is enough to deter repeat offenders.
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4. Pant’s Attempt to Imitate MS Dhoni Fails
Interestingly, sources close to the team revealed that Rishabh Pant attempted to copy legendary CSK captain MS Dhoni to speed up proceedings and avoid sanctions. Dhoni, known for his incredible match awareness and time management, often runs between ends after overs to minimize time wastage.
However, Pant’s imitation didn’t yield the desired result. While his effort to follow in Mahi’s footsteps is commendable, the execution fell short, and the time lag continued to grow, especially with frequent bowling changes and complicated field placements, both of which contributed to LSG’s slow over rate.
5. Umpires and Referee to Finalize the Sanction
As per IPL protocol, the on-field umpires flag the slow over rate, and the match referee reviews the incident to determine punishment. Since this is categorized as a Level 1 offence, the match referee’s decision will be final and binding.
The official announcement regarding the fine is expected shortly, but it’s already confirmed that Pant will have to pay the penalty as captain of the offending side.
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6. Rishabh Pant’s Form Also Under Scrutiny
While Pant’s leadership continues to draw mixed reactions, his form with the bat is also under the microscope. The wicketkeeper-batsman has failed to score runs in all four of LSG’s matches in IPL 2025 so far. His repeated batting failures are beginning to hurt the team’s top-order consistency.
With scores that have not crossed even the 30-run mark in the tournament, Pant is now under immense pressure to perform, not just as a captain but as a key middle-order batsman.
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7. Impact on LSG’s Campaign
Despite the win over MI, this incident reflects a larger issue within the Lucknow setup. While their bowling unit has performed admirably, the constant field setting changes and bowling reshuffles are slowing down their over rate. The team needs to improve its internal coordination to prevent such penalties from recurring.
If this trend continues, it may affect team morale, especially with key matches approaching that could determine playoff spots. Pant, already battling poor form, now finds himself in the spotlight for disciplinary reasons as well.
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8. What Lies Ahead for Rishabh Pant?
The upcoming matches will be crucial for Rishabh Pant on multiple fronts. He needs to:
1. Bounce back with the bat and contribute significantly to the team’s total.
2. Improve on-field management, ensuring timely over completion.
3. Maintain clear communication with the bowling unit and support staff to avoid unnecessary delays.
Pant is a naturally aggressive and passionate cricketer, and there’s no doubt he has the potential to lead from the front. However, he must learn from this incident and find a balance between aggressive leadership and efficient time management.
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9. Conclusion
While LSG’s victory over MI provided a much-needed boost to their campaign, the BCCI’s disciplinary action against Rishabh Pant serves as a stark reminder that rules and discipline remain paramount in the IPL. With Pant now under fire for both his form and leadership, the pressure is mounting.
As the league progresses, all eyes will be on the young captain to see whether he can overcome this tough phase and lead his team with both bat and brain. For now, LSG and Pant must regroup, refocus, and ensure that such avoidable infractions don’t derail their 2025 campaign.
