Mumbai, April 5, 2025 – Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has defended Tilak Varma’s tactical retirement against Lucknow Super Giants, dismissing criticism as uninformed. Varma’s exit after a slow knock drew mixed reactions, but Jayawardene stressed it was a strategic move to help the team regain momentum and better exploit end-overs match-ups.
Jayawardene explained that decisions like this are part of evolving T20 tactics and require a deeper understanding of game dynamics. He urged critics to look beyond conventional thinking, stating that every choice is made with the team’s best interest in mind. The incident has sparked broader discussions on the growing use of tactical retirements in modern cricket.
