The IPL 2025 Retirement Debate: Players Retired Out Before Tilak Varma in LSG vs MI Match

In the IPL 2025 match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Tilak Varma made headlines when he became the latest player to retire out in the tournament’s history. This decision raised several eyebrows, as it was only the fourth time in IPL history that a batter had walked off before being dismissed. This move, though tactical, didn’t work in MI's favor as they failed to chase down the target and lost by 12 runs.

Tilak Varma’s retirement added a new chapter to the IPL’s evolving tactics, but he was not the first player to make this bold move. In fact, there are three other notable instances of players being retired tactically. Let's take a closer look at these incidents to understand the context and how they compare to Tilak’s decision.

What Does “Retired Out” Mean?

Before we delve into the history of players retiring out, it’s important to clarify what the term "retired out" means. In cricket, a batter who is retired out walks off the field before being dismissed. This is typically a tactical decision made by the team to allow another batter to step in. Unlike the usual retirement (when a player gets injured or decides to leave the field for personal reasons), a tactical retirement is a strategy, usually aimed at changing the momentum or improving the scoring rate.

Tilak Varma's Retirement Out in IPL 2025

In the IPL 2025 match between MI and LSG, Tilak Varma was brought in as an impact player during MI’s chase. He replaced Vignesh Puthur, a young spinner, in the 11th over. Tilak played a crucial knock, scoring 25 runs off 23 balls. However, in the 19th over, when MI still needed 24 runs from seven balls, Tilak Varma decided to retire out.

This tactical move allowed Mitchell Santner to step in and continue the chase. While it appeared to be a smart decision on paper, MI could not chase down the target and ended up losing the match by 12 runs. Their total score of 191/5 in 20 overs was not enough, and the retirement out didn’t quite work as expected.

This moment marked the fourth instance in IPL history where a batter had been retired out, making it a rare and strategic occurrence. However, Tilak Varma wasn’t the first player to do so. Here are three other notable examples of players retiring from IPL history.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin (2022)

Ravichandran Ashwin made history in IPL 2022 as the first player to retire out in a match. This occurred during a game between the Rajasthan Royals and the Lucknow Super Giants. Ashwin came in to bat at No. 6 in the 10th over and scored 28 runs off 23 balls. In the 19th over, with Rajasthan Royals at 135/4, Ashwin decided to walk off the field.

The move was strategic, allowing another batter to come in and accelerate the scoring rate. Rajasthan Royals managed to add 30 more runs and finished their innings at 165/5. This decision proved successful, as Rajasthan won the match by just three runs, making Ashwin's retirement a pivotal moment in the game.

2. Atharva Taide (2023)

In IPL 2023, Atharva Taide became the second player in history to retire out during a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. Taide was batting on 55 from 42 balls when Punjab Kings, chasing a challenging target of 213, decided to retire him out. Jitesh Sharma replaced Taide in the middle.

This tactical move was made to introduce a fresh batter who could accelerate the scoring. However, despite the change, the Punjab Kings could not chase down the target and lost by 15 runs. This move, though strategic, did not yield the desired result for the team.

3. Sai Sudharsan (2023)

Sai Sudharsan was the third player in IPL history to retire out, and it happened in a high-pressure match between the Gujarat Titans and the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023. Sudharsan was batting at an impressive 43 off 31 balls when he decided to retire out in the final over. His retirement allowed Rashid Khan to take his place and attempt to finish the innings with a flourish.

This decision paid off for the Gujarat Titans, as Rashid Khan managed to hit a boundary off the first ball he faced. Gujarat Titans went on to finish with a massive total of 233 runs, thanks to Shubman Gill’s brilliant 120 off 60 balls. Gujarat Titans comfortably won the match by 62 runs.

Comparing These Retired Out Decisions to Tilak Varma's Move

While Tilak Varma's decision to retire may have seemed similar to these earlier instances, the outcome was different. In previous cases, such as Ashwin and Sudharsan, their teams benefited from the tactic, either winning the match or finishing with a stronger total. On the other hand, MI’s decision to retire out Tilak Varma didn’t work as planned, and they lost the match by 12 runs.

The decision to retire a player is always calculated, and teams take this step when they believe a batter can no longer effectively accelerate the scoring rate. It is a rare occurrence, and it often sparks debates among cricket fans and analysts. In the case of Tilak Varma, the move was seen as a risk that didn’t pay off.

Conclusion

Tilak Varma’s retirement from IPL 2025 added another layer to the strategic complexities of the game. While it was a bold and rare move, it didn’t have the desired effect for the Mumbai Indians. Nevertheless, it joins the ranks of previous iconic moments in IPL history where players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Atharva Taide, and Sai Sudharsan have also walked off the field to give their teams a tactical advantage. As IPL continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if more players adopt this strategy in the future.

For more updates on IPL and cricket, check out Dhoni's Retirement Update.