'Fascinating T20 tactics' - Twitter lauds Ravi Ashwin for getting retired out in team's interest in RR vs LSG game

Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced the Lucknow Super Giants in the 19th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday (April 10). After being invited to bat first, the Men in Pink scored 165 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs thanks to Shimron Hetmyer who slammed an unbeaten on 59 off 36 balls with six maximums and one four. However, more than him, Ravi Ashwin hogged the limelight as he was retired out during the innings.

Ashwin had come out to bat in the 10th over of the innings when the Royals lost three wickets for just seven runs. At 67/4, they needed a partnership desperately and the off-spinner did just that. He added 68 runs for the fifth wicket with Hetmyer. But in the 19th over of the innings, Ashwin was seen rushing off the field without even getting dismissed and Riyan Parag walked in to bat. This left everyone surprised as many began speculating.

However, soon it was confirmed that Ravi Ashwin was retired out to make sure Parag gets a chance to finish the innings on a high. It was a smart move from the Royals and well within the rules of the sport. In this case, he wouldn’t have got a chance to bat again as it was considered as a fall of wicket according to the rules.

Ashwin became the first player in IPL and 4th overall in T20 cricket to be retired out

Meanwhile, Ravi Ashwin has become the first player in the history of the IPL to retire out. Overall, he is the fourth player to be retired out in T20 cricket with Shahid Afridi, S Tobgay from Bhutan and Sunzamul Islam of Cummila Warriors opting to get out in such a fashion before.

Interestingly, Ashwin’s batting partner Hetmyer also didn’t know about the decision the former took to get retired out. “I had no idea about it (Ashwin’s retirement) – he was also a bit tired. It was a good decision, as the kid (Parag) hit a six for us,” Hetmyer said while speaking after the innings. With Ashwin being at the centre stage of yet another unique dismissal in cricket, he was trending on social media yet again but this time, a lot of experts praised him for making a move for the benefit of the team.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

A lot of Scorers don't seem to understand / interpret the cricket laws relating to 'Retirement' correctly. A batter is only 'Retired' at the instance of retiring. It becomes Retired Out or Retired Not Out only at the end of the innings, as the case may be. #IPL2022 #LSGvRR pic.twitter.com/Vm2yC3C64z

— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) April 10, 2022

I am not one bit surprised that the first person to Retire Out in the IPL is Ashwin. Hope it becomes the norm. #IPL #LSGvsRR

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) April 10, 2022

First ever in #IPL history. Retired out, who else but #Ashwin

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 10, 2022

Retire-Out. First of many. De-stigmatise it.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 10, 2022

Ashwin retired out is fascinating T20 tactics. T20 is causing us to rethink the way we conceive the game of in the 21st century.😊😊

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 10, 2022

Retired OUT….it was only a matter of time we saw it in the #IPL2022 Makes a lot of sense.

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 10, 2022

Retired OUT .. love it .. @rajasthanroyals #IPL2022

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 10, 2022

Ashwin applying all kinds of cricket rules while playing 🤣 pic.twitter.com/3cdRmmzulv

— Kriti Singh (@Kriti307) April 10, 2022

Ashwin is retired out and Riyan Parag in, great move by Rajasthan.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 10, 2022

Props to Ravichandran Ashwin for retiring out himself in team's interest. It is something which should be normalized in limited overs cricket. I'm sure it will be done regularly in the future. Ashwin can be called the pioneer of this brave strategy. RESPECT! #IPL2022

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) April 10, 2022