Tilak Varma Retired Out Controversy During LSG Vs MI Explained. Who Are Other Batters With Rare Dismissal?

Last Updated:April 05, 2025, 09:03 IST

IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians’ decision to ‘retire out’ Tilak Varma during the run chase against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday divided the cricket community.

Shardul Thakur of Lucknow Super Giants delivered an exceptional 19th over at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday night that forced Mumbai Indians to retire out their Impact Player Tilak Varma, triggering a hot debate online. Chasing LSG’s steep target of 204, MI were very much in the hunt with 6 wickets in hand, needing 29 off 12 when Thakur was handed the ball. The right-arm medium pacer ended up conceding only 7 runs in the penultimate over of the thrilling encounter. But even before Thakur could wrap up his bowling spell, Varma was asked by his team to return to the dug out, only to be replaced by Mitchell Santner. The contentious move by the MI camp puzzled many as Varma had already faced 23 deliveries for his 25 and despite finding it hard to get going, the decision to take him off the field came under the scanner. But why?

Retired Out

What MCC’s Law 25.4.3 states:

If a batter retires for any reason other than as in 25.4.2, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his/her innings is not resumed, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – out’.

This is not to be confused with “retired hurt” where the batter could return to the crease and resume their inning.

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Social Media Reactions

Tilak Varma had a rough night with the bat. The batter was unable to time the ball during Mumbai Indians’ run chase, forcing in-form Suryakumar Yadav (67 off 43) to keep the required rate in reach from the other end. Varma’s snail-paced innings and the mounting pressure proved costly for MI as Yadav attempted a scoop against Avesh Khan only to be caught by Abdul Samad.

Captain Hardik Pandya who joined Varma after SKY’s departure did manage to smack a couple of boundaries and a maximum but Shardul Thakur’s tight 19th over forced MI to think out of the box and call the struggling batter back to the hut.

“I know cricket is a team game but let’s be real, this ‘retired out’ move is gonna stay in Tilak Varma’s head for a while. Forget the loss man, that moment hits harder. I feel bad for Tilak,” commented a user.

“Mumbai Indians called back Tilak Verma just because he was not playing well tonight. This is so pathetic. Tilak Verma deserved better. He won so many games for Mumbai Indians single handedly but they insulted him tonight just because of one bad game,” chimed in another.

Showing his disagreement with MI’s move, former cricketer and current IPL commentator Harbhajan Singh wrote: “Retiring Tilak for Santer was a mistake in my opinion . Is Santner a better hitter than Tilak ? If it was for Pollard or some other accomplished hitter I would have understood . But Don’t agree with this . Come on, (sic)”

A similar sentiment was shared by Hanuma Vihari:

“Tilak Verma retired out for santner???

Make me make sense!!!

Hardik struggled vs GT never was retired out! Why tilak then?”

“Tilak Verma retired out n Santner coming in? Doesn’t make sense to me. What do you guys think?” joined Irfan Pathan.

There were, however, several in support of Varma’s removal from the pitch as they felt he had “sabotaged” their run chase when Mumbai Indians seemed to be cruising and in control of the proceedings at one stage.

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Mahela Jayawardene Explains

It was Mahela Jayawardene’s call to have Varma removed and the MI coach deemed it a tactical move. That they needed someone fresh on the field, he said.

“I think Tilak batted well for us when we lost that wicket, and that partnership with Surya. He just wanted to get going, but he just couldn’t.

“Till the last few overs hoping because he spend some time there, so he should have been able to get that hits out of the way. But I felt that at the end I needed someone fresh to go.

“He was struggling. When these things happens in cricket, not nice to take him out, but I had to do that. It was a tactical decision at that point.”

Hardik Pandya Joins

Captain Hardik Pandya seconded his coach’s move while taking “full ownership” of the frustrating loss.

“As a batting unit, we fell short. We win as a team, we lose as a team. I take full ownership,” Pandya said post match. “We needed some hits, and Tilak was not getting those. In cricket, some days come when you try, but the runs just don’t come. It was purely a tactical decision,” he spoke in support of Jayawardene.