Tilak Varma on being retired hurt Mumbai Indians earlier in IPL

While Tilak Varma scored his second consecutive half-century against Delhi Capitals in Mumbai Indians’ 12-run win at Delhi on Sunday night, the MI batsman was retired out the team against Lucknow Super Giants earlier in the team’s fourth match in this year’s IPL. With Varma being retired out and New Zealand all-rounder Mitchel Santner being sent in place of Varma in the match. Mumbai Indians lost the match 12 runs.
Varma, who played a knock of 59 off 33 balls against Capitals on Sunday, has opened up on the team’s decision to retire him out in the earlier match played on April 4.
“Nothing. I was just thinking that they made the decision for the team’s purpose. So, I took it in a positive way and didn’t take it in a negative way. But the main thing is how you take it. It’s more important. So I was thinking it that way. I just want to be comfortable wherever I bat. So I told the coach and staff, “Don’t worry wherever you play me, I’m comfortable, and I’ll give my best,” Varma told Star Sports after Sunday’s win over Delhi Capitals.
Varma was batting on 25 off 23 balls with Mumbai Indians requiring 24 runs off seven balls in the match against Lucknow Super Giants in the match at Ekana stadium in Lucknow when the 22-year-old batsman was replaced Mitchell Santner the team management. With Mumbai Indians suffering a 12-run loss in the match, there was a lot of disagreement over the decision former cricketers too. “Retiring Tilak for Santer was a make in my opinion . Is Santner a better hitter than Tilak ? If it was for Pollard or some other accomplished hitter I would have understood . But Don’t agree with this . Come on, (sic)”former Indian spinner and Mumbai Indians player Harbhajan Singh had posted on X after the incident. Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene defended the decision. “I think Tilak batted well for us when we lost that wicket, and that partnership with Surya. He just wanted to get going, but he just couldn’t. Till the last few overs hoping because he spent some time there, so he should have been able to get that hits out of the way. But I felt that at the end I needed someone fresh to go. He was struggling. When these things happen in cricket, not nice to take him out, but I had to do that. It was a tactical decision at that point.” the coach had said post the match.