In a rare and bold move MI batter Tilak Varma became just the fourth player in IPL history to be retired out during Mumbai Indians’ (MI) run chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 16 of IPL 2025. The decision which took many by surprise came in the final stages of the high-pressure chase at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on April 4 (Friday).

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Chasing a challenging target of 204 MI were in contention thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s 67 (43) and a quick 46 from Naman Dhir. However Tilak Varma who came in at No. 5, managed only 25 runs off 23 balls. Despite spending time at the crease he struggled to find fluency or big hits especially after Suryakumar’s departure.

With MI needing quick runs at the death the management decided to retire Tilak out just before the final ball of the penultimate over a move that drew mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike.

Speaking at the post-match press conference Mumbai Indians’ Global Head of Performance, Mahela Jayawardene addressed the controversial decision.

"Tilak batted well for us when we lost that wicket and in partnership with Suryakumar. He was trying to get going, but he just couldn't quite get there. We waited till the last few overs, hoping that since he had spent some time in the middle, he'd be able to get the hit out of the way. But he was struggling, and in those moments, you need someone fresh. It's not nice to take someone out like that, but it was a tactical call at that point," said Jayawardene.

The former Sri Lankan captain further emphasized that there was no deeper meaning behind the decision:

"It was purely tactical. We're just taking one guy out and bringing another in. Don't read too much into it just a game-based decision."