Tilak Varma Retired Out Because Mahela Jayawardene Asked Him To, MI Head Coach Says, ‘I Just Felt…’ News24 –

Mumbai Indians faced a defeat against Lucknow Super Giants but one decision that grabbed most attention was Tilak Varma retiring out. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene opened up about the decision and informed that it was his call to retire Tilak Varma.

Having 24 runs required off the last seven balls, Tilak Varma retired out, giving way for Mitchell Santner to take the field. Though the move was in vain, Mumbai Indians were still short by 12 runs, with Santner getting to face just two balls. Jayawardene made it clear that it was his decision, and not that of captain Hardik Pandya, to retire Tilak, but he did recognize the important role the batter played in steadying the innings with Suryakumar Yadav in the middle overs.

Mahela Jayawardene Wanted Tilak Varma To Retire Out

“I think Tilak batted well for us when we lost that wicket and that partnership with Surya and he just wanted to get going but he just couldn’t then,” Jayawardene said in the post-match press conference.

“I waited till the last few overs hoping that because he spent some time there so he should have been able to get that hit out of the way but I just felt that at the end I just needed someone fresh to go and he was struggling,” he added.

“When these things happen in cricket and not nice to take him out but I had to do that, it was a tactical decision at that point,” he added.