Mukesh Kumar Fined 10% Match Fee and Handed One Demerit Point for Code of Conduct Breach Against Mumbai Indians
Delhi Capitals pacer Mukesh Kumar has been fined 10% of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
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Mukesh Kumar Admits Code Breach
The incident occurred during the penultimate over of Mumbai Indians' innings, with MI at 121/6 and just two overs left. Mukesh was admitted to a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2, which relates to
“abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during a match.” He accepted the match referee’s sanction without contest.
“Mukesh Kumar admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction,” the IPL stated in an official release.
In a dramatic finish, Mumbai Indians batters Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir launched a late assault, scoring 48 runs in the last two overs, propelling MI to 180/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Delhi Capitals collapsed to 121 all out, losing by a massive 59 runs.
The result secured Mumbai Indians a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs, while Delhi Capitals were eliminated from the tournament. Notably, DC became the first team in IPL history to be knocked out after winning their first four matches in a season.
Suryakumar Yadav's shines again
Suryakumar Yadav, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 73 off 43 balls, was named Player of the Match. Unlike his usual flamboyant style, Suryakumar played a measured knock, opting for composure over aggression. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he explained his approach:
“It was important for a single batter to bat till the end. We knew there was one over of 15-20 runs somewhere, so we had to wait till the end. The way Naman came in and shared that energy with me was also a turning point.”
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Faf du Plessis, Delhi Capitals' stand-in captain, reflected on the defeat and highlighted the absence of regular skipper Axar Patel, whose presence he felt was missed, especially on the slow surface:
“Especially Axar on a wicket like that. If you look at the way Mitch Santner bowled — they are very similar bowlers. To bowl four overs for around 10 runs, that’s top-class. Axar is that kind of bowler, an internationally proven left-arm spinner. On a wicket like that, he would have loved to bowl.”
Also Read: “It’s Going to Be a Shame” - Ben Stokes Laments End of Epic Virat Kohli Rivalry
