MUMBAI: A major talking point during Mumbai Indians' 12-run defeat to the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Friday night in IPL-2025 was the fact that MI retired out their India batter Tilak Varma in the closing stages of the match. In a decision which has triggered a debate and even a controversy-fans on social media are enraged- the left-hander, who has scored two T20I hundreds, was asked to return to the dugout in the penultimate over of a 204-run chase, after coming on as an 'Impact Player' making 25 off 23 balls.
When Tilak left the field, MI needed 24 off seven balls with five wickets in hand. The visitors eventually couldn't cross the line, though.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. TOI has learnt that the decision, which seems harsh on the face of it on the talented batter, was purely taken as Tilak is suffering from a niggle in a finger.
"He has a finger injury in his left hand (bottom hand). That’s why he was called back to the dugout. Due to the injury, he wasn’t able to hit with power. This is exactly the reason why he played as an Impact Player. There are otherwise no doubts in the team over Tilak's hitting ability," a reliable source tracking the developments told TOI on Saturday. Tilak replaced wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur when MI batted.