Mumbai Indians' head coach Mahela Jayawardene expressed his support for left-handed batsman Tilak Varma ahead of the pivotal match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 season. This endorsement follows the controversial decision to retire Tilak during the match against Lucknow Super Giants, which resulted in a defeat for the five-time champions.

In the encounter against LSG in Lucknow, Tilak Varma struggled to find his rhythm. He was called back to the dugout in the penultimate over, with Mitchell Santner taking his place. Tilak managed to score 25 runs off 23 deliveries, hitting two boundaries, but he faced difficulties in timing the ball and executing significant shots throughout the innings.

The choice to retire Tilak Varma sparked considerable backlash on social media, with fans criticizing captain Hardik and coach Jayawardene for their decision.

This incident marked Tilak Varma as only the fourth player in the history of the lucrative league to be retired. In the lead-up to the match against RCB, Mahela Jayawardene reiterated his rationale, describing the move as purely "tactical."

"I understand that this has become a controversial topic. In today's game, it is more about strategy, and we will continue to adjust our batting order to counter specific bowling attacks. I don't see this as being any different. As a batsman, there are times when you step up to bat and find it challenging to perform. He has played exceptionally well for us in the last three matches under pressure and has formed crucial partnerships," Jayawardene stated during the pre-match press conference.

"His experience adds significant value to the team. He was making an effort but couldn't find his footing in Lucknow. It was my choice to bring in someone else to secure those crucial runs. Santner had performed well in recent games and was in good form," he concluded.

'Nothing to do with Tilak'

Jayawardene emphasized that the decision was purely "tactical" and unrelated to the performance of batter Tilak Varma. The former Sri Lankan captain expressed confidence in the young player’s ability to excel against Rajat Patidar's RCB.

"It was a tactical decision and not connected to Tilak. Tomorrow, he will step up and secure a victory for us. That’s the kind of player Tilak is for our team, and he holds significant value in our squad," stated Jayawardene.

The head coach also confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will be available for the upcoming match at Wankhede Stadium. Additionally, right-handed batter Rohit Sharma, who was absent in the previous game against Lucknow, is anticipated to participate in the match against Virat Kohli and his team.

Currently, the Mumbai Indians are positioned eighth in the points table, and the five-time champions are in urgent need of a win to improve their standing.

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