LSG vs MI 2025 | Tilak Varma Retired Out – Hardik Pandya Explains MI’s Tactical Call in IPL 2025 Loss

Tilak Varma Retirement Sparks Debate in MI’s Loss to LSG – Did Mumbai Indians Wait Too Long

Tilak Varma Retired Out in IPL 2025 – Tactical Masterstroke or Misstep

The IPL is no stranger to innovation, but Tilak Varma retired out during Mumbai Indians’ chase against Lucknow Super Giants has sparked a debate that's refusing to die down. What was supposed to be a calculated, strategic move has instead invited a storm of criticism not just from fans, but from former coaches, analysts, and even players.

In the penultimate over of Match 16 of IPL 2025, with Mumbai Indians needing 24 off 7 deliveries to chase down 204, Tilak Varma was pulled out mid-innings. He had crawled to 25 off 23 balls, and his slow scoring rate was seen as a liability in that moment. He was replaced by Mitchell Santner, a solid all-rounder, but not exactly a feared finisher in this format. And in the end, MI fell short by 12 runs, leaving everyone asking the same question: was this move too little, too late?

Sanjay Bangar Calls the Move “Ineffective”

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar didn’t mince words when analyzing the situation. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, he questioned the timing of the Tilak Varma retired out decision, suggesting that if MI really wanted to shake things up, they should’ve acted earlier.

“I don’t really think it impacted the game in any way,” Bangar remarked. “Had he been retired slightly earlier, that could’ve had an effect on how much had to be gotten in the last over.” And there’s some logic to that statement. Santner faced only two balls, and his role was so limited that the change did little to affect the outcome.

Bangar also raised an important emotional angle. He pointed out that benching a young batter mid-innings might dent his confidence. “It wasn’t as if Kieron Pollard was walking in. You’re replacing one of your own top-order players and essentially telling him he’s not good enough to finish,” he said. “That kind of message can stick.”

Mark Boucher Offers a More Measured Take

Mumbai Indians' former head coach Mark Boucher, now a part of the backroom team, acknowledged that the Tilak Varma retired out call wasn’t perfect but refrained from calling it a blunder. “Tilak actually played a decent role with his partnership with Surya. You’d expect someone with his talent to up the tempo, but it just wasn’t happening,” Boucher admitted.

He added that the Lucknow bowlers executed their plans well and made scoring difficult. But the conversation is far from over. Boucher noted that batting coach Kieron Pollard would likely sit down with Tilak to discuss what could’ve been done differently in those pressure overs. “Maybe he could have moved around the crease a bit more. Those are tactical learnings,” Boucher explained.

Hardik Pandya Breaks Silence on the Decision

MI captain Hardik Pandya, who had just taken a stunning five-wicket haul and was at the non-striker’s end when Tilak walked off, stood by the call. “It was obvious,” he said after the match. “We needed some hits, and it just wasn’t coming off for Tilak.”

Hardik, who admitted that MI’s batting unit collectively underperformed, tried to take the spotlight off the individual and place it on the team's execution. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team,” he said. “On this pitch, we probably gave away 10-15 runs too many while fielding, and that cost us.”

Despite his impressive personal performance with the ball, Hardik emphasized that MI needed to make better calls and play smarter cricket, hinting that the team’s margin for error is thinning quickly in this tournament.

Did the Timing of Tilak Varma’s Exit Hurt MI More Than Help?

Let’s break it down. With seven balls left and 24 to win, Tilak was batting at a strike rate of just under 109. In a format where the demand is high-octane finishes, that rate simply doesn’t cut it. But was Santner the right replacement? That’s where many believe Mumbai got it wrong. Santner has never been a go-to finisher in the IPL, and his inclusion at that juncture raised more eyebrows than hopes.

There’s also the case of Suryakumar Yadav, who had kept MI in the hunt with a classy 67 off 43 balls. Once he was dismissed, MI’s hopes largely rested on Hardik’s power and Tilak’s support. But once Tilak was withdrawn, the pressure magnified.

Former cricketers and fans alike have pointed out that if Mumbai had pulled Tilak out earlier, maybe with 3 overs left, Santner or even someone else more suited for the death could have had a real impact. Instead, the move came so late that it was more symbolic than tactical.

MI’s Broader Struggles Go Beyond One Retirement Decision

It’s easy to isolate the Tilak Varma retired out debate, but Mumbai Indians’ problems run deeper. Their batting order feels top-heavy, and the middle-order lacks clarity. The young Indian players have shown promise but often fall short in pressure moments. And despite some individual brilliance like Hardik’s five-for or Surya’s quickfire knock MI have now lost three out of their first four games in IPL 2025.

There’s also the looming issue of leadership and how decisions are being made under crunch time. This retirement call felt reactive rather than proactive. And that’s something a team of MI’s stature needs to reassess.

Retired Out: Still a Work in Progress for T20 Tactics

The concept of a strategic retirement in T20 cricket is still relatively new and evolving. While Ravichandran Ashwin was the first to do it in 2022, followed by instances from PBKS and GT, the impact of such moves has largely been debated rather than proven. The jury is still out on whether this tool can genuinely win games or whether it’s more of a gimmick when not executed with conviction.

In MI’s case, the Tilak Varma retired out call has sparked a tactical debate but also raised a question of man-management. Can you pull a young player mid-innings and expect him to walk back with his head held high?