In a dramatic turn of events during a high-stakes IPL match, Mumbai Indians’ decision to retire out Tilak Varma in the 19th over while chasing a daunting 204-run target has ignited a firestorm of debate. With 24 runs needed off just 7 balls, the move to replace a struggling Varma with a fresh batter was intended to accelerate the scoring rate but instead drew sharp criticism from fans and former cricketers alike.
The tactical decision was made as Varma found it challenging to keep up the momentum at the crease. Captain Hardik Pandya‘s call to retire him out and introduce a new batsman for the final overs left spectators and analysts bewildered. The move was particularly scrutinized given the context of the match, with Mumbai Indians needing a strong finish to clinch the victory.
Social media platforms erupted with reactions, as cricket enthusiasts questioned the ethics and impact of retiring out a set batter, expressing concerns over its potential effect on player morale and confidence.
Notable former cricketers including Harbhajan Singh, Hanuma Vihari, Robin Singh, and Irfan Pathan took to social media to voice their disapproval. They argued that removing a settled batsman in such a high-pressure situation could disrupt the team’s rhythm and momentum. Harbhajan Singh, in particular, criticized the decision to replace Varma with Mitchell Santner, questioning Santner’s hitting capabilities compared to Varma’s.
Harbhajan posted on X: “Retiring Tilak for Santner 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.”
Hanuma Vihari went further, questioning why Pandya himself wasn’t retired out, given his struggles in the chase. “Tilak Verma retired out for Santner??? Make it make sense!!! Hardik struggled vs GT never was retired out! Why Tilak then?,” he posted on X.
Irfan Pathan echoed similar sentiments, questioning the logic behind the move. “Tilak Verma retired out n Santner coming in? Doesn’t make sense to me. What do you guys think?”
Robin Singh, while critical of the timing, suggested that if such a decision was to be made, it should have been executed earlier. “Unsettled opening pair continues to haunt @mipaltan Mumbai Indians in @TATAIPL25. If there was a decision to retire Tilak Varma, maybe it should have been done an over earlier??,” he posted on X.
Following Mumbai Indians’ narrow 12-run defeat, the effectiveness of the strategy became a focal point of discussion. In the post-match press conference, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene took responsibility for the decision, explaining that it was a tactical move aimed at injecting fresh energy into the batting lineup.
“He just wanted to get going but he couldn’t,” Jayawardene said. “[We] waited till the last few overs, hoping that [he would find his rhythm], because he had spent some time there so he should have been able to get that hit out of the way, but I just felt that at the end, I just needed someone fresh to go, and he was struggling. These things happen in cricket. Not nice to take him out but I had to do that, it was a tactical decision at that point.”