Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma became the fourth player in IPL history to be retired out, as the team made a tactical decision during their match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 4.
Chasing a challenging target of 204 at Ekana Cricket Stadium, MI opted to retire Tilak out in the penultimate over after he struggled to find his rhythm. With MI needing 24 runs off seven balls, Tilak, who had scored 25 runs off 23 balls, was replaced by Mitchell Santner.
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene explained the decision, stating it was based on a tactical assessment. “He just wanted to get going, but he couldn’t,” Jayawardene said in the post-match press conference.
“We waited till the last few overs, hoping he would find his rhythm, but at that point, I felt we needed someone fresh to take on the challenge. When these things happen in cricket…it’s not nice to take him out, but I had to do that; it was a tactical decision at that point,” Jayawardene added.
Despite the switch, MI fell short of their target, losing the match by 12 runs. LSG bowlers Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan delivered brilliant final overs to seal the win for their side. Thakur bowled a tight seven-run penultimate over, while Avesh held his nerve in the final over, conceding just nine runs after a six from MI skipper Hardik Pandya off the first ball.
Pandya, reflecting on the decision to retire Tilak out, said, “I think it was obvious. We needed some big hits, and he wasn’t able to get them. Sometimes in cricket, you have one of those days where things just don’t work out, but the decision speaks for itself.”
Despite the setback, MI’s effort in the chase was commendable, but they ultimately fell short in the high-pressure final overs.
Suryakumar Yadav Not Happy With MI’s Decision To Retire Out Tilak Varma
As Mitchell Santner walked out to bat and Tilak Varma returned to the dugout, Surya Kumar Yadav, sitting on the bench, looked shocked by the decision. He showed his frustration, clearly surprised by what had just happened. MI head coach Jayawardene quickly went over to Surya to explain the reasoning behind the move. While Surya didn’t say anything, his body language suggested he wasn’t convinced.
Surya is one of Tilak’s biggest supporters, even giving up his No. 3 spot in India’s T20I team after Tilak scored his maiden international century. Given the situation, Surya’s reaction wasn’t surprising.
