IPL 2022: R Ashwin explains 'retired out' in RR's win over LSG - It was a tactical move
India Today
IPL 2022: R Ashwin opened up about Rajasthan Royals' decision to retire him out during their 3-run win over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday.
Rajasthan Royals star Ravichandran Ashwin explained his team's decision to have him 'retired out' during their IPL 2022 match against Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai on Sunday, April 10. Ashwin became the first-ever batter in the history of IPL to be retired out and the off-spinner said it was nothing but a 'tactical decision' from the Royals' leadership group.
R Ashwin was batting on 28 off 23 balls in RR's innings against LSG when he suddenly ran up the stairs at the Wankhede Stadium, helping raise a few eyebrows. However, the on-air commentators confirmed that Ashwin had indeed been retired out by RR.
Ashwin, who was involved in a 68-run stand with Shimron Hetmyer for the 5th wicket, steadied the ship along with the West Indies batter after RR lost Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler early. Ashwin started off slowly but he hit 2 sixes off Krishnappa Gowtham.
RR sent in big-hitter Riyan Parag in the 19th over after Ashwin went back to the hut and the young batter hit a six to finish with 165 on the board. It indeed proved to be a tactical masterstroke as RR won the match by just 3 runs.
IPL 2022: Full Coverage | Points Table
"It was a tactical move. Riyan Parag was batting well (at the nets). After the Gowtham over got over, I gave myself some time. I was thinking of hitting one or two more biggies. I tried hitting them, there were balls the slot but there were a few mistimed ones," Ashwin said in a teaser of his YouTube show."But a guy like Riyan Parag was at the shed. What if he can come in and hit 2 sixes, we thought that would be a tactical decision. Sometimes, it works, sometimes it doesn't."
Ashwin became only the 4th batter in T20 cricket and the 2nd in franchise-based T20 cricket and the off-spinner said these tactical moves are needed for a the shortest format of the game, which he believes is for consumption of the next gen.
