Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya clarified the choice to retire Tilak Varma during their 12-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in Match No. 16 of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. Varma, a left-handed batsman, entered the game in the ninth over after Naman Dhir was dismissed for 46 runs off 24 deliveries.

Unfortunately, the 22-year-old struggled to find his rhythm, managing only 25 runs from 23 balls at a strike rate of 108.70.

As the team faced the challenging requirement of 24 runs from 7 balls, the management opted to retire Varma and bring Mitchell Santner to the crease. Notably, Hardik Pandya was present at the other end when Varma departed.

During the post-match presentation, Hardik Pandya was questioned about this decision, to which he responded succinctly, stating that it was an "obvious" choice.

"I believe it was clear. We needed some big hits, and he wasn't able to provide them, as you mentioned. In cricket, there are days when you want to perform but things just don’t go your way. The decision speaks for itself," Hardik Pandya remarked during the post-match discussion.

Mumbai Indians had a viable opportunity to chase down a target of 204, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav's impressive innings of 67 runs off 43 balls. However, his dismissal significantly hindered the Hardik Pandya-led team’s progress.

In the final over, Mumbai Indians required 22 runs to secure victory. Hardik Pandya managed to hit a six on the first delivery. Nevertheless, Avesh Khan adjusted his bowling lengths effectively, leading to a 12-run victory for the Lucknow Super Giants.

‘We conceded 12-13 runs extra’

Mumbai Indians won the toss against Lucknow Super Giants and chose to bowl first. LSG set a challenging total of 203/8 in their 20 overs, bolstered by half-centuries from openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram.

Hardik Pandya acknowledged that his team allowed 12-13 extra runs while fielding, which he believed was pivotal in determining the outcome of the match. “To be completely honest, I think we gave away too many runs on this pitch, and that 10 to 13 run margin made a significant difference,” he stated.

The Mumbai Indians captain claimed five wickets, including those of Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, and Akash Deep.

“I have always taken pleasure in bowling. While I may not have many options, I strive to read the pitch accurately and employ smarter tactics,” Hardik Pandya remarked.

“I maintain an aggressive mindset, but my focus is on delivering more dot balls, applying pressure, and allowing the batters to make mistakes. I truly enjoy bowling, and today was one of those exceptional days,” he concluded.

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