Delhi Capitals' Mukesh Kumar Fined After IPL Defeat to Mumbai Indians

Mukesh Kumar's Fine Following IPL Loss

Delhi Capitals (DC) fast bowler Mukesh Kumar has been penalized 10% of his match fee after his team's defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI), which effectively eliminated their chances of advancing to the playoffs in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), according to reports.

Mukesh was found to have committed a Level 1 violation under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which pertains to the misuse of cricket equipment, clothing, or ground gear during a match. He acknowledged the offense and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Daniel Manohar.

It was a challenging match for Mukesh, who conceded 48 runs in his four overs, including five fours and three sixes. The most significant damage occurred in the 19th over, where he was hit for 27 runs by Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir, allowing Mumbai to set a formidable target of 180 runs. His over included scores of 6, 1, 4, 6, 6, and 4, concluding his performance with figures of 2/48.

During the match, Mukesh was replaced as DC opted to bring in KL Rahul as their impact player during the batting chase, but Delhi's batting lineup faltered, managing only 121 runs. Only two uncapped players, Sameer Rizvi (39) and Vipraj Nigam (20), managed to score over 20 runs.

Mumbai's bowlers, particularly Mitchell Santner and Jasprit Bumrah, delivered exceptional performances. Together, they bowled 44 balls, conceding just 23 runs while claiming three wickets.

This season, Mukesh has participated in 11 out of DC's 13 matches, taking 11 wickets. However, he has been costly, with an average of 32.63 runs and an economy rate of 10.11.

With Mumbai's victory, the playoff spots are now filled, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings securing the remaining positions. Upcoming group stage matches will determine the final standings for these four teams before the playoffs.