Ravichandran Ashwin (RR) on Sunday (April 10) became the first cricketer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history to tactically retire out during Rajasthan Royals' (RR) fixture against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Ashwin was promoted up the order to bat at No.6 for the Royals, and he scored 28 off 23. He walked off the field retired out after facing just two balls in the 19th over, allowing Riyan Parag to join and bat with Shimron Hetmyer in the middle.
Parag returned with 8 off 4 balls while Hetmyer smashed 59 not out off 36 balls as RR posted 165/6 in their 20 overs.
WATCH - R Ashwin becomes first batter to retire out in IPL; cricket fraternity applauds the move
After the game, RR skipper Sanju Samson explained the tactic and revealed that it was a team decision.
Samson further stated that it has been part of their discussion even before the start of the IPL 2022 season.
"It's about being Rajasthan Royals (Ashwin's retired-out). We keep trying different things. Have been talking about it before the season. We thought that if some situation occurs, we can use it. Was a team decision," he said in the post-match presentation.
On the other hand, Kumar Sangakkara – RR's director of cricket – said while the team had discussed retire out plan before it was entirely Ashwin's call to sacrifice his own wicket.
"It was the right time to do that," said Sangakkara of Ashwin's decision. "Ashwin himself was asking from the field as well and we had discussed just before that as to what we would do. As the coach I got one call wrong not sending Riyan Parag ahead of Rassie van der Dussen and holding Rassie back so we couldn't get the full benefit of Riyan, but how Ashwin handled that situation, walking in under pressure, he batted, supported the team and then finally sacrificed himself in terms of retiring himself out and then backed it up with a magnificent bowling effort. And of course Boult. Yuzi Chahal, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Sen all of these bowlers were outstanding under pressure with the dew."
Coming to the match, Rajasthan Royals registered a nervy three-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants. It was RR’s third win in the ongoing IPL and they are now occupying the top spot on the points table.
The Royals will next face Gujarat Titans on Thursday (April 14).
(With Hindustan Times inputs)
