IPL history: 4 instances of players being retired out

Tilak Varma created a rare moment in IPL history as he became only the fourth batter to be retired out, during Mumbai Indians’ clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Friday. The incident took place in the final overs of the chase, where Varma, batting on 25 off 23 balls, was struggling. With MI still needing 24 runs off the last seven balls, the decision was made to retire him out.

According to ICC rules, a batter is adjudged retired out if they leave the field without the umpire’s permission and do not return with the opposing captain’s consent. This is counted as a dismissal when calculating the batting average. It differs from retired hurt, where a player leaves due to injury but can resume later if fit. Varma came in at number five in the ninth over and never looked comfortable. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t time the ball well, prompting the MI camp to make the call to retire him out.

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Here are the four players who have been retired out in IPL:

4. Tilak Varma vs LSG in 2025

The newest addition to this list became Mumbai Indians’ batter Tilak Varma, who retired in the game against Lucknow Super Giants in Match No. 16. Chasing 204, MI were at 86/3 when Tilak walked in, but the southpaw struggled to play at a higher strike rate, scoring 25 off 23 balls. His slow knock increased the pressure on the in-form Suryakumar Yadav, who eventually fell for a 67. 

As the asking rate went over 15, MI coach Mahela Jayawardene made the call to retire Tilak with seven balls remaining and 24 still needed. Mitchell Santner replaced him, but MI couldn’t complete the chase, falling short by 12 runs. Hardik Pandya, who was at the other end, called the decision obvious during the post-match. Shardul Thakur’s 19th over (just 7 runs conceded) proved to be the game-changer.  

3. Sai Sudharsan vs MI in 2023:

During IPL 2023 Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans’ batter B Sai Sudharsan was retired out for 43 off 31 balls. Sudharsan became only the third player in IPL history to be retired out, was just 21 years old when he registered this unique feat.

Playing a supportive role to Shubman Gill, who hammered 129 off 60, Sudharsan anchored a 138-run partnership for the second wicket. But with only two overs left and nine wickets in hand, Gujarat needed some firepower in the end. After two quiet overs, the Titans made the call to send in Rashid Khan, who instantly smashed a boundary. However, in Sudharsan’s 31-ball stay, he smashed five boundaries and one six and was batting at a strike rate of 138.70.

2. Atharva Taide vs DC in 2023:

Punjab Kings’ batter Atharva Taide retired out during the team’s chase against Delhi Capitals at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, in IPL 2023. Chasing a target of 214, PBKS needed 86 runs off the last five overs when Taide, who had scored 55 off 42 balls, walked off to allow power-hitter Jitesh Sharma to come in.

This was the second instance in IPL history of a batter retiring out. While Taide was the top scorer in the match, many experts felt the decision came too late, especially as Taide’s strike rate slowed the chase. Despite Liam Livingstone’s late fireworks, PBKS fell short. Ironically, dropped catches and missed run-outs earlier had kept both Taide and Livingstone alive. 

1. Ravichandran Ashwin vs LSG in 2022

During IPL 2022, India’s veteran all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, became the first-ever batter to be tactically retired out in the league’s history while playing for the Rajasthan Royals. The incident occurred against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 10. Sent in at No. 6, Ashwin scored 28 off 23 balls before voluntarily walking off in the 19th over. This allowed big-hitter Riyan Parag to enter, who smashed a six in his eight-run cameo.

Ashwin had clarified it was a planned decision by the team management, calling such innovations necessary for the modern, fast-paced T20 format. The move surprised many, including Shimron Hetmyer, who admitted he was caught off guard while batting at the other end. Notably, he became only the 4th batter in T20 cricket and the 2nd in franchise-based T20 cricket to achieve this feat (at that time).

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