Why Tilak Varma Chose to Retire Out in MI vs LSG? Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a narrow 12-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2025 match on April 4. However, one moment from the match that sparked a lot of discussion was Tilak Varma’s decision to retire out during MI’s chase of 204 runs. Fans and cricket experts were left wondering why a player like Tilak, who had been set at the crease, would choose to walk off when the team needed him most.
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Why Tilak Varma Chose to Retire Out in MI vs LSG: Understanding the Bold Move
At the time of his retirement, MI needed 24 runs from the last seven balls. Tilak had made 25 runs off 23 balls but was struggling to find his timing. With the game on the line, MI decided to send in Mitchell Santner, a bowling all-rounder, in place of Tilak. The decision was to bring in a player who could potentially hit big boundaries in the final moments.
The move generated mixed reactions. Some questioned whether it was the right choice to replace a set batter, while others felt it was a smart decision to bring in someone who could finish the game with big shots.
After the match, MI captain Hardik Pandya explained that sometimes batters have off days, and the team needed someone who could deliver powerful hits. He said the situation required a change, and they felt it was the best call.
Tilak Varma’s retirement out made him only the fourth player in IPL history to do so, joining the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Atharva Taide, and Sai Sudharsan, who had made similar decisions in previous IPL seasons.