[WATCH]- Tilak Varma Retires Out In 19th Over After Slow Knock In LSG vs MI IPL 2025 Clash

Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma opted to retire himself out during the final phase of the run chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2025 encounter at the Ekana Stadium on Friday, April 4. The left-hander struggled throughout his 23-ball stay, managing just 25 runs and failing to find any rhythm.

Varma entered the game as an impact substitute at No. 5 following a strong third-wicket stand between Naman Dhir and Suryakumar Yadav, which had brought MI back into the contest. While Suryakumar maintained a brisk scoring rate, Tilak couldn’t keep up, putting pressure on the required run rate.

After Suryakumar’s dismissal in the 17th over, Tilak was the most set batter at the crease, at least in terms of balls faced. With Hardik Pandya fighting to keep MI in the game, the need for quick runs from both ends became critical.

With 29 needed off the final two overs, Tilak faced two balls from Shardul Thakur in the 19th over but could only manage singles. After regaining strike for the last ball of the over, he made the unusual decision to retire himself out, stepping away to allow a fresh batter to take over for the final delivery.

You can watch the video here:

Batting at 25 off 23 in the run chase, #TilakVarma retired himself out to make way for Mitchell Santner! 🤯

Only the 4th time a batter has retired out in the IPL!

Watch LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/nH2UGjQY0t #IPLonJioStar 👉 #LSGvMI, LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1… pic.twitter.com/NJ0C0F8MvL

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 4, 2025

Here are some fan’s reaction:

Damn Tilak Varma retiring out cause he couldn't hit properly. 10/10 for normalizing retiring out for the team when you're batting shit. More players and teams need to follow this. pic.twitter.com/WsvarPBHJc

— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) April 4, 2025

🚨 A RARE SCENE IN CRICKET. 🚨

– Tilak Varma who came in as an impact player, retired out before the final over. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/oqg6JwRNiV

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 4, 2025

Sky's sad reaction for Tilak verma when they made him retired out.💔💔

It will truly dent the Confidence of Tilak Varma 🥺
pic.twitter.com/jJOy60cqAi

— Radha (@Rkc1511165) April 5, 2025

unbelievable. this is all Tilak Varma’s fault. put so much pressure on Sky. i guarantee it’s intentional because his “hero rohit” has probably told him not to play well. fuck this cunt.

— adi (@thfcadi) April 4, 2025

I felt for Tilak Varma — it just wasn't his day.But retiring him out in the 19th over wasn't just a horrible decision,it was more than an insult to him. pic.twitter.com/G4QAzWgMTA

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) April 4, 2025

“TiLaK vArMa ShOuLd Be At n0.3 PoSiTiOn” pic.twitter.com/TCyw4fvSWN

— ` (@NaeemBackup) April 4, 2025

Tilak Varma and Surya Kumar Yadav.pic.twitter.com/V8i9I2kxhW

— Sai Teja (@csaitheja) April 4, 2025

Mitchell Santner replaced a disappointed Tilak Varma, who struggled with a 25 off 23 at a strike rate of 108.70. Shardul Thakur’s tight 19th over gave away just seven runs, leaving MI 22 to win in the final over. Despite a strong start by Hardik Pandya, MI fell short, finishing at 191/5 and recording their third loss of IPL 2025.

Tilak Varma became the fourth player in IPL history to be retired out

Ravichandran Ashwin was the first player in IPL history to retire out, stepping aside for Riyan Parag during a 2022 match against LSG. Since then, Atharva Taide of PBKS and Sai Sudharsan from GT have also been retired out in similar fashion.

Tilak Varma had previously struggled during a chase against GT at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where he managed 39 runs off 36 balls. Mumbai Indians went on to lose that match by 36 runs.

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