During the IPL 2025 match against the hosts Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last Friday night (April 4), Mumbai Indians (MI) were forced to retire out Tilak Varma in desperation for the victory. 

After MI captain Hardik Pandya chose to field first, LSG scored 203/8. At the same time, MI skipper Hardik Pandya created history by becoming the first captain to record a fifer in the IPL (5/36). This was also Pandya's first five-wicket haul in T20s. Despite that, the hosts managed to put a big total thanks to two powerful half-centuries from the openers, Mitchell Marsh (60) and Aiden Markram (53). 

Tilak Varma was retired out 

In reply, MI batters Naman Dhir (46) and Suryakumar Yadav (67) brilliantly put the visitors back in the big chase. However, Tilak Varma struggled in the chase, as MI were stuck in the process. Varma scored 25 off 23 balls with only two fours, and desperate MI finally decided to retire him out when they required 24 more runs in seven balls. 

Mitchell Santner replaced retired-out Varma. Although captain Hardik Pandya fought hard, with 28 not out off 16 balls, MI lost the match by 12 runs. This means that the retired-out decision was too late for the five-time IPL champions. 

Later, the MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that he recalled Tilak Varma, by calling it a tactical decision. He further added, "It's like a football situation where the manager substitutes a player in the closing stages. Cricket is exploring new grounds. Interesting and exciting."

See Also: Twitter reactions after Lucknow Super Giants second win of IPL 2025

Difference between Retired - not out and Retired - out

‘Retired - not out’, which is commonly known as “retired hurt”, and ‘Retired - out’ are two different terms in the game. Both have been clearly mentioned in the MCC law. 

• According to 25.4.2, “If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason, this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired - not out’.”

However, ‘Retired - out’ is different than the common “retired hurt”.

• The MCC law 25.4.3 claims, “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’.”

List of players Retired - out in IPL so far

Tilak Varma wasn’t the first batter to record ‘Retired - out’ in IPL history. In the IPL 2022, Ravichandran Ashwin was trending after becoming the first cricketer in IPL history to record it. Varma was the fourth batter in IPL history to be involved in the ‘Retired - out’.

• Ravichandran Ashwin (Rajasthan Royals): 28 runs off 23 balls – vs Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2022)

• Atharva Taide (Punjab Kings): 55 runs off 42 balls – vs Delhi Capitals (IPL 2023)

• Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans): 43 runs off 31 balls – vs Mumbai Indians (IPL 2023)

• Tilak Varma (Mumbai Indians): 25 runs off 23 balls – vs Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2025)