Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma and Chennai Super Kings opener Devon Conway were Retired Out in IPL. Tilak Varma became the fourth batter overall to be retired out in IPL and the first batter in IPL 2025. What was a rare occurrence until a few seasons ago in the IPL has now become a masterstroke for IPL teams. The teams have started using the retired out rule in IPL regularly, but what could be the reason behind it, and how does it benefit the teams? On that note, let’s take a look at the retired out meaning in IPL.

What Is Retired Out Meaning in IPL？

The “retired out” is a strategic decision in IPL taken by teams. The batter leaves the field to allow another batter to take his place at the crease. The team usually removes the struggling batter and brings on a new hard-hitting batter to help the team’s cause. Since the batter leaves the field voluntarily, he cannot return to bat.

Damn Tilak Varma retiring out cause he couldn’t hit properly. 10/10 for normalizing retiring out for the team when you’re batting shit. More players and teams need to follow this. pic.twitter.com/WsvarPBHJc

— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) April 4, 2025

This decision is taken to bring a power-hitting batter to the crease to chase down high totals or to set a big total while batting first. The retired out meaning in IPL is seen as a smart move for teams these days, as T20 cricket has evolved into a hard-hitting and high-scoring game.

Retired Out：What Happened to Tilak Varma and Devon Conway？

Tilak Varma

Varma retired out against Lucknow Super Giants while chasing 204 runs. He was asked to return after scoring 25 runs off 23 balls. The 22-year-old Indian batter was struggling to find the bat to ball and was increasing the required run rate for Mumbai Indians in a 200+ chase against the Lucknow-based franchise.

Tilak Varma retired out with just 7 balls left in the chase, and MI ended up losing! 💔🤔

Was it a smart move by Mumbai Indians? 👀#TilakVarma #IPL2025 #LSGvMI #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/KjUxyrM1WM

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) April 4, 2025

Mumbai Indians decided to call Mitchell Santner in place of Tilak, who could muster only two singles off two balls. MI skipper Hardik Pandya opened up about the decision to retire Tilak Varma against Lucknow Super Giants. He mentioned that Tilak received a nasty blow in the nets the previous day. It was a tactical decision by the coach Mahela Jayawardene to send Mitchell Santner as he felt that a fresh batter could do the job as Tilak Varma was struggling due to an injury on his finger.

Was it the right decision to retire out Tilak Varma in the penultimate over of the chase? #MIvsLSG #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/0KOl6ISDqZ

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 5, 2025

“Tilak was fantastic. Last game, a lot of things happened. People said a lot of things about it, but people don’t know that he had a very nasty hit the previous day. It was a tactical call, but because of the finger which he had, the coach just felt that that was a better option that someone fresh can come and do it.”

Devon Conway

Meanwhile, Devon Conway retired against Punjab Kings in pursuit of 220. He opened the innings alongside countryman Rachin Ravindra and retired after scoring 69 runs off 49 balls. The New Zealand player belted six boundaries and a couple of sixes at a strike rate of 140.82 during his time in the middle.

Devon Conway has been retired out! 😳

Ravindra Jadeja steps in for him, marking the second such instance in this year’s IPL. 👀#IPL2025 #PBKSvCSK #DevonConway pic.twitter.com/EiGWGFJHCn

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) April 8, 2025

The Chennai Super Kings replaced Devon Conway with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to join former skipper MS Dhoni at the crease. Jadeja scored nine runs off five balls, including a six, but the Super Kings fell short by 18 runs and registered their fourth loss of the season.

Devon conway retired out#WhistlePodu #IPLonJioStar #CSK pic.twitter.com/eqGdRIJeyK

— CSK Fans Army™ (@CSKFansArmy) April 8, 2025

Devon Conway played a decent yet slow knock for the Chennai Super Kings. His knock wasn’t enough for the former IPL champions to chase a massive total of 220 runs. Thus, the team decided to bring in Ravindra Jadeja, hoping the Indian all-rounder could do some magic for the struggling Chennai Super Kings side.

Related Article：2025 PBKS vs CSK Highlights：Match Report

List of Players Retired Out in IPL

Five players have been retired out in IPL so far across four editions. Ravichandran Ashwin was the first player to get retired out in IPL for the Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022. He scored 28 runs off 23 balls for the Royals and returned to the dressing room in the 19th over. Riyan Parag replaced Ashwin at the crease.

Atharva Taide chose to leave the field in the 15th over after scoring 55 off 42 for Punjab Kings against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023. He made way for Jitesh Sharma. In another instance, in IPL 2023, Sai Sudharsan retired out for the Gujarat Giants after scoring 43 runs off 31 balls against the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023. He was replaced by Rashid Khan.

Conclusion

Tilak Varma and Devon Conway were retired out in IPL 2025 and became the latest additions to the list. The retired out has become a common occurrence in the Indian Premier League over the last few years, and we expect to see more of this as the season progresses.