Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya addressed the
surprising tactical move to retire out Tilak Varma during their 12-run defeat
against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 16 of IPL 2025, stating it was a
necessary decision under the match circumstances.
Chasing a target of 204 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana
Cricket Stadium, Mumbai Indians looked well in the contest with Suryakumar
Yadav anchoring the innings with a 67-run knock off 43 balls. However, the
momentum shifted after his dismissal, and the team was left needing 24 runs off
the final 7 deliveries.
Tilak Varma, who had scored 25 off 23 balls at a strike rate
of just 108.70, was retired out at that crucial moment to bring in Mitchell
Santner, known for his big-hitting capabilities. The call raised eyebrows, but
Pandya stood by it.
“I mean, I think that was obvious,” Pandya said at the
post-match presentation. “We needed some hits and I think he was not getting
them. In cricket, sometimes it’s just one of those days where you try but it
doesn’t come off. The decision says itself why we did it.”
Despite Pandya’s own efforts in the final over, where he
struck a six off the first ball, MI fell short as LSG pacer Avesh Khan
delivered a tight finish, sealing a 12-run win for the home side.
Earlier in the evening, Pandya had won the toss and opted to
bowl first. LSG capitalized on the batting-friendly surface, posting a strong
total of 203/8 thanks to solid half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden
Markram.
Reflecting on the bowling performance, Pandya admitted that
his side conceded more runs than they should have. “If we have to be really
honest to ourselves, maybe in the field, you know, I think those 10, 12 runs,
13 runs margin, I think we gave too much on this wicket.”
Individually, Pandya impressed with the ball, picking up
five crucial wickets including Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant,
David Miller, and Akash Deep.
“I've always enjoyed my bowling,” said Pandya. “I don’t
think I have many options, but I always try to read the wicket well and use
smarter plans. I’ll always be aggressive with my mindset, but the key is to
bowl dot balls, build pressure, and force the batter into making mistakes.”
With this loss, Mumbai Indians will need to regroup quickly
as they look to find the right balance and regain momentum in the tournament.
The team’s next fixture will be crucial in setting the tone for their campaign
ahead.