Harshit Rana has been suspended for Kolkata Knight Riders’ next game against Mumbai Indians on May 3 for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.

Rana has also been fined 100 percent of his match fees for breaching the Code of Conduct during KKR’s IPL 2024 clash against Delhi Capitals on Monday at Eden Gardens. It was Rana’s second breach under Article 2.5 in the ongoing season, surmounting to a Level 1 offence, which has resulted in a  suspension for one game.

Article 2.5 of the IPL Code of Conduct talks about the use of “language, actions or gestures which could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player”. It states: “any language, action or gesture used by a Player and directed towards a batter upon his/her dismissal which has the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the dismissed batter, whether or not any reaction results, or which could be considered to disparage or demean the dismissed batter, regardless of whether the batter him/herself feels disparaged or demeaned (in other words, a ‘send-off’). Without limitation, Article 2.5 includes: (a) excessive celebration directed at and in close proximity to the dismissed batter; (b) verbally abusing the dismissed batter; and (c)) pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion.”

When did the incident occur?

The incident in question occurred when Rana dismissed Delhi batter Abishek Porel on the fourth ball of the seventh over. After making a mess of the stumps, Rana was seen gesturing for Porel to walk back towards the pavilion. He also proceeded to give an air kiss, but stopped midway, after seemingly realising that a similar action had resulted in him being pulled up earlier in the tournament.

Rana had been fined 60 percent of his match fees for breaching Article 2.5 during KKR’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in March. He had given a flying kiss send-off to Mayank Agarwal, which saw Rohit Sharma later enact the gesture during a practice session.

Rana’s absence will be a huge loss for KKR, who are reeling with the form of their overseas pacer Mitchell Starc. Rana is the team’s joint-most successful bowler this season, picking up 11 scalps at an average of 24.90 and an economy rate of 9.78.

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