Footage Reveals Suryakumar Yadav Was Unhappy With Tilak Varma Being Retired Out for Mitchell Santner in LSG vs MI IPL 2025 Clash
In a surprising tactical move during the IPL 2025 clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), MI chose to retire out Tilak Varma in the final stages of their chase.
With 24 runs needed off just 7 balls, Tilak, who had scored 25 runs from 23 deliveries, was replaced by Mitchell Santner. The move, aimed at injecting fresh firepower into the dying moments of the game, didn’t sit well with MI star Suryakumar Yadav.
Suryakumar’s Visible Displeasure
Video footage from the match showed Suryakumar Yadav appearing confused and displeased with the decision. He was seen gesturing and questioning the move as Tilak walked off the field. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene was later seen explaining the rationale to Suryakumar on the sidelines.
Why MI Made the Call
Tilak had struggled to find the boundary, and the MI think tank believed a new batter might be able to turn things around quickly. “We needed some big hits, and unfortunately, he (Tilak) couldn’t find them,” said captain Hardik Pandya during the post-match presentation. Jayawardene echoed the sentiment, saying, “We gave him time in the middle, hoping he could break loose. But he was struggling, so we felt a fresh batter might help.”
A Risk That Didn’t Pay Off
Despite the bold strategy, Santner managed only 2 runs off 2 deliveries, and MI ultimately fell short by 12 runs, ending their innings at 191/5 while chasing 204. This decision made Tilak Varma only the fourth player in IPL history to be retired out—joining Ravichandran Ashwin, Atharva Taide, and Sai Sudharsan.
Watch: Mahela Jayawardene Explains the Decision to Suryakumar Yadav
While MI’s leadership stood by the strategy, the outcome sparked debate among fans and pundits. The move reflected the increasing use of tactical retirements in modern T20 cricket, though it didn’t produce the desired result this time around.
