The IPL twist has left fans fuming and experts in disbelief!
Imagine this: A young, solid batsman is replaced by a much slower player in one of the most high-stakes matches of the season. Sounds unreal, right? Well, Mumbai Indians made the shocking decision to retire out Tilak Varma and bring in Mitchell Santner, a move that has sent shockwaves through the cricket world.
The Drama Unfolds: A Tactical Decision or a Blunder?
Here’s how it went down: On a crucial day during the IPL clash between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, Varma was playing a steady knock, scoring 25 runs off 23 balls.
The drama unfolded on the fifth ball of the 19th over when, out of nowhere, Varma was retired out. To the shock of fans, the more conservative New Zealand batter, Mitchell Santner, was sent in to replace him. Santner faced Shardul Thakur’s over and managed to take a double on the very next ball.
Pandya’s Bizarre 20th Over: A Missed Opportunity?
But that was just the beginning. MI needed 22 runs in the 20th over to chase down a challenging target of 204 runs, and this is where things got truly bizarre. Captain Hardik Pandya, instead of rotating the strike to Santner, chose to face five out of the six deliveries himself. The tension reached its peak when, as the visiting team’s defeat became inevitable, Pandya finally took a single on the last ball. Santner got just one ball to face—and despite the dire situation, failed to get off the mark. Lucknow Super Giants walked away with an emphatic win, restricting Mumbai to just 191 runs.
The Experts Weigh In: A Tactical Blunder or Bad Timing?
This shocking decision has left the cricket world in disbelief. Former cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh, Robin Singh, and Piyush Chawla, have slammed the move, calling it a tactical blunder of epic proportions. Robin Singh even questioned the timing, suggesting that if there was a need to retire Varma, it should’ve been done an over 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.
Jayawardene’s Defense: A ‘Tactical Decision’
In his post-match press conference, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene defended the move, claiming it was his decision. He explained that Varma was struggling and needed to be replaced for a “fresh” approach. “He just wanted to get going but he couldn’t…[We] waited till the last few overs, hoping that [he would find his rhythm], but I just felt that at the end, I just needed someone fresh to go,” Jayawardene said. “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.”
Sehwag’s Confusion: ‘Why Retire Him?’
However, former India batter Virender Sehwag was confused by the decision. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he said, “I didn’t understand why they got him to retire out. He had played 20-25 deliveries, yes his shots weren’t connecting, but it’s not like Santner did something in the two balls he faced. If the last over was going to be faced by Hardik Pandya, then why retire him?” Sehwag added, “Who knows, on Santner’s two deliveries, maybe Tilak Varma hits a boundary. There would have been some benefit, but it’s outside my understanding.”
The Tactical Question: Was Santner Really the Answer?
Even former Indian spinner Murali Kartik questioned the logic of the decision, saying, “If you have called Santner in with the belief that he can hit the big shot, then why did Pandya not take the single in the last over? If you have retired him out and want to maintain your logic for that, then you should have given Mitchell Santner the strike.”
Harbhajan Singh and Vihari: A Misstep in Tactics?
Harbhajan Singh echoed similar concerns, calling the move a mistake. “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 I don’t agree with this. Come on,” Harbhajan posted on X.
Even Vihari joined the chorus of confusion, questioning the fairness of the decision: “Tilak Verma retired out for Santner??? Make me make sense!!! Hardik struggled vs GT and never was retired out! Why Tilak then?” he posted on X.
The Unanswered Question: Is This the End of Mumbai’s IPL Hopes?
Irfan Pathan also shared his confusion, posting, “Tilak Verma retired out and Santner coming in? Doesn’t make sense to me. What do you guys think?”
This shocking decision has left many wondering—was it a poor tactical call or a sign of deeper issues within Mumbai Indians’ strategy? Could this be the final nail in the coffin for Mumbai’s IPL hopes this season, or just one catastrophic mistake?