IPL 2025: Infamous Tilak Varma ‘recall’ shows Mumbai Indians in very poor light

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Mumbai Indians and skipper Hardik Pandya can blame themselves alone for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Lucknow Super Giants in a high stakes IPL 2025 match at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium on Friday (April 4) night.

For those who watched the action unfold, what Mumbai did to recall/retire Tilak Varma at 25 not out off 23 balls was crazy. Brought in as an Impact Player, Tilak did struggle to score runs. But then, if he was unable to produce the big hits in tough conditions, aided further by smart bowling shuffle by LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, then MI blew it big time.

Who took the call or recall on Tilak Varma is not clear, since MI fell short by an agonising 12 runs in the final analysis. And if skipper Hardik Pandya thought he could seal the deal, his 'finishes' in the IPL have not been brilliant at all when compared with what he has done for India.

Victory has many heroes and defeat many villains. On Friday, MI skipper Hardik Pandya, produced one of the most creative bowling spells as an all-rounder, when he took five wickets for 36 runs.

No captain before this in the IPL had produced a five-wicket burst in four overs. This was not only defining, it showed how much Pandya gets into the thick and think of action and has to lead.

On a day when Rohit Sharma did not play, ostensibly due to a fitness issue, and Will Jacks opened with Ryan Rikleton, the MI boat was rocked with two wickets down for 17 runs. The way Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep, back after a long absence, bowled for LSG was defining. Yet, what stood out was how Pant used only five bowlers, in all, to throttle MI.

For sure, more than the defeat for MI, what has caused a brouhaha is how they treated Tilak Varma. Everyone knows he is a gifted batter, someone who can tear any bowling attack. But then, if one is to assume a batter will deliver each day, it is wrong.

The effect of such a decision to recall him will hurt for a long time. In the high intensity IPL, youngsters pump in plenty of effort. Tilak has pluck for sure, maybe luck was not on his side as he was unable to produce aerial shots and step up the scoring.

They should have persisted with him, at least he had got his eye in, after facing 23 deliveries where he scored two boundaries. Well, bringing in Mitchell Santner did not make much of a difference either as he was unbeaten on two of two balls.

What of skipper Hardik Pandya, known for his finishing skills, like MS Dhoni of the past. Clearly, despite the valuable 67 runs coming from the blade of Suryakumar Yadav, batting was not easy.

Pandya scored 28 off 16 balls. That he failed to seal the deal and disgust was writ large over his face was visible on TV screens. Who took the call to send back Tilak Varma will come out soon but this was dubious history created in the IPL.

Before this, R.Ashwin in 2022, Atharva Taide in 2023 and Sai Sudarshan, also in 2023 had been 'retired out.' Tilak Varma joins this dubious list, though it is going to shatter his confidence and dent his psyche.

A batsman/batter puts in enormous effort. None like to lose his wicket. But to be recalled like this, it stinks. Who will deal with this stupid decision remains to be seen. Indeed, Mumbai Indians have hit the nadir in IPL 2025, with one win in three games. Things are going to get even more tight for MI skipper Pandya from here on.

Back to LSG, for all those who have trolled Rishabh Pant and LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka non-stop, day in and day out, this win was important. Pant is not scoring runs but the LSG management is not talking of Rs 27 crores spent on him as a wasteful expenditure.

They have invested in Pant and he has been ice cool as a skipper. He smiles, jokes, kids around with Rohit Sharma a day before the match. All this defines him as a player and someone ready to soak in pressure like a sponge.

Daresay, after such a win, if anyone thinks LSG are lousy, please rethink. Every image of Sanjiv Goenka with Rishabh Pant in social media domain is not one of bitterness or betrayal! They are in it together, at least, as of now.