Ravichandran Ashwin became IPL's first ever tactically retired-out batters during the game between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022.
Ravichandran Ashwin opened on his famous decision to retire-out in the closing stages of Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) innings against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2022 last Sunday (April 3). The veteran off-spinner became the first batter in IPL history and only second in T20 cricket ever to be retired-out on tactical terms by his team.
Sent out to bat at No.6 to help Royals avert a collapse at 67 for 4 and partly to ensure next man in Riyan Parag has a more suited entry point in the end-overs, Ashwin struck a useful 28 off 23 balls in a critical 68-run partnership with Shimron Hetmyer.
But once his role had been fulfilled, the Rajasthan Royals think-tank led by head coach Kumar Sangakkara had a quick discussion with Ashwin and it was decided between both parties that he will walk back and ensure Parag can maximise the death-over phase along with Hetmyer.
With only 10 balls remaining in the innings, and a more capable power-hitter available at the other end, Hetmyer broke free and hit some crucial sixes to finish off the innings. From 135/5, RR ended 165/6 by the end of the 20th over, eventually winning the game by just 3 runs following their potentially game-transforming move.
Speaking of the same on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin divulged on what his mindset was at the point of deciding to run back to the shed and allow for Parag to come in. Ashwin said it was a “tactical” move, with the right intention to bring in a more capable power-hitter to the crease having accomplished his job of arresting the collapse as a make-shift No.6.
“Riyan Parag was the next batter and when that Gowtham (the bowler) over was finished, I gave myself some time, 5-6 balls, to see whether I hit a six or few fours (more, having hit Gowtham for two maximums),” Ashwin said.
“I threw the kitchen sink at it, but I couldn’t get the timing going. If Riyan Parag could come in and smash even 2 sixes, it would be handful and so, it was a tactical decision,” he explained.
Having previously spoken of the need to bowl in partnerships and being willing to play the defensive job in tandem with a more attacking option in T20s, R Ashwin stressed the influence of understated players and their role behind a team’s success.
“There is a popular saying, ‘Behind every successful man, there is a woman’. Likewise, behind every successful sportsperson, there is an underrated player, who has done his job quietly and gone unnoticed,” Ashwin said, likening himself to such a player after retiring out and allowing RR to maximise the end-overs phase.
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The great off-spinner also gave an example from the sport of football, where player substitution and being able to play an indirect role in effecting a goal is recognised widely. Ashwin said while the wider diaspora hasn’t cracked T20 as a different sport, day by day, it is heading the Football way through teams and players’ willingness to break the conventions.
“T20 as a sport is heading where Football has reached. Just like they are using substitutes, what I did was similar,” said the well-learnt sportsman. “We are late (in terms of employing such tactical moves. But I believe this (retire-out) will happen a lot more in the coming days. There won’t be a stigma ( attached to it, anymore). This will happen more times.”
