IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya Fined and Given Demerit Point for Knocking Bails Off Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya has been fined 10% of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct after he forcefully knocked the bails of the wicket during a match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 20, 2026. The incident occurred during the MI vs. KKR encounter at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where MI lost by four wickets. Pandya was found to have violated Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct by “knocking the bails of the wicket with force while walking back to his run-up” during the fourth ball of the 10th over of the second innings. The IPL stated in a press release that Pandya’s actions constituted “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match.” The sanction was imposed by Match Referee Rajiv Seth, and Pandya admitted to the offense, accepting the penalty. The incident occurred in a match where KKR chased down a target of 148 with seven balls remaining. Pandya, who bowled two overs, conceded 13 runs and returned wicketless. The fine and demerit point are part of the IPL’s disciplinary measures, which stipulate that accumulation of four to seven demerit points could lead to a one-match suspension. Pandya’s penalty comes amid a challenging season for MI, who are already out of contention for the IPL play-offs. The five-time champions have won only four matches this season, marking their worst performance in recent years. MI’s final game of the 2026 tournament is scheduled for May 24 against Rajasthan Royals. Additionally, MI’s squad faced further setbacks as opener Quinton de Kock and all-rounder Raj Bawa were ruled out of the remainder of the season.#hardik_pandya #kolkata_knight_riders #eden_gardens #mumbai_indians #rajiv_seth
