BCCI Fines Rishabh Pant and LSG Squad for Code of Conduct Violation Against Mumbai Indians

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant was fined ₹24 lakh on Sunday for a slow over-rate during his team’s 54-run defeat against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to a release by the IPL, this was LSG’s second offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the Code of Conduct, which addresses minimum over-rate requirements. As a result, Pant incurred a fine of ₹24 lakh, while the other players in the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each fined either ₹6 lakh or 25% of their match fee, whichever was lower. Mumbai Indians posted a total of 215/7 and subsequently bowled out LSG for 161, marking their fifth consecutive win of the season.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants mentor and former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan expressed optimism about pacer Mayank Yadav’s future performances after his return from injury. Yadav, who had been sidelined due to back and toe issues following his India T20I debut last October, delivered figures of 4-0-40-2 on Sunday, dismissing key MI players Rohit Sharma (12) and Hardik Pandya (5). However, his bowling speeds hovered around 140 kmph, slightly lower than his previous pace of 150-155 kmph.

Speaking after LSG’s loss, Zaheer said, “It’s always a challenge for a bowler to return after a long injury layoff. I’m pleased with how Mayank bowled. Completing his full quota of four overs is significant, and his execution and speed will only improve as he gets more games under his belt.”

Zaheer further detailed LSG’s cautious approach in managing Mayank’s comeback. “We deliberately took time to ease him back into the team environment. Fast bowling, especially in T20 cricket, is tough with batters attacking aggressively. Our focus was to ensure his smooth return,” he added. Zaheer also noted that the current IPL schedule would allow sufficient recovery time for Mayank between matches, supporting his gradual return to peak performance.