IPL 2025: BCCI Changes Rule For Over-Rate Offences In Indian Premier League; Hardik Last Captain To Be Banned

IPL 2025: Ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025’s opening match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 22 March, BCCI has made several widespread changes to rules that will impact the teams and players alike. (Full Coverage | More Cricket News)

One vital rule change is about the offences related to over-rates. Earlier, if a team was guilty of slow over-rates, the team captain was given a one-match ban.

This is what happened with Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya, who will miss the opening match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on 23 March due to slow over-rate offence in IPL 2024’s last match. In his absence, stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav will lead MI.

However, as per the new rules set by BCCI, instead of captains being banned for slow over-rates, the teams and captains will get demerit points and fines in case of such offences.

This means that teams will not be in danger of losing their captains, but will still be incentivised to follow the over-rate guidelines.

How Much Will IPL 2025 Captains Be Fined For Slow Over-Rates?

As per a BCCI source quoted by PTI, the captains will be deducted from 25 to 75 per cent of match fees for Level 1 offences. But for Level 2 offences, they will get four demerit points, and each fourth demerit point will lead to penalties, including 100 per cent fee deduction or more demerit points.

However, the source confirmed that no players will face bans for slow over-rates.

This decision was taken in a BCCI meeting on Thursday, 20 March, as per a report by Cricbuzz. Further, several other rulings have either been modified or are under reconsideration, including the ban on saliva usage to shine balls, as well as the Impact Player rule.

Therefore, Hardik Pandya will go down in the IPL history books as the last player to receive a ban for this particular offence, and teams can strategise accordingly with the new rule change in mind for IPL 2025.