In the Indian Premier League (IPL), the rare dismissal of being “retired out” has been a topic of interest.
Recently, Tilak Varma became the fourth player in IPL history to be retired out during a match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025.
Before him, three other players had experienced this unusual dismissal.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin was the first player to be tactically retired out in IPL history. This happened during a match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022.
Ashwin, batting at number six, scored 28 runs off 23 balls before walking off in the 19th over to allow another batter to accelerate the scoring.
This strategic move was seen as a bold attempt to boost the team’s chances, although it was initially questioned by many.
2. Atharva Taide
Atharva Taide became the second player to be retired out in IPL. This occurred during a Punjab Kings (PBKS) match against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023.
Taide was struggling to score, and with 71 runs needed from the last five overs, he decided to retire out to bring in more aggressive hitters.
This move aimed to increase the scoring rate and secure a win for PBKS.
3. Sai Sudharsan
Sai Sudharsan was the third player to retire out in IPL history. He played for Gujarat Titans (GT) in a match against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023.
Despite striking at a high rate, Sudharsan voluntarily walked off to allow Rashid Khan to take the strike and finish the innings with big hits.
This tactical decision paid off as GT posted a strong total of 233 runs.
Tilak Varma Joins the List
Tilak Varma’s retirement during the LSG vs MI match in IPL 2025 marked the fourth instance of this rare dismissal.
He scored 25 runs from 23 balls but was unable to accelerate, leading to his retirement in the 19th over.
The decision was made to bring in Mitchell Santner, aiming to inject fresh momentum into the chase. However, MI ultimately fell short by 12 runs.
