IPL 2025 has already seen some shocking moments and on April 4, 2025, MI vs LSG IPL Match 16 was played at the Ekana Stadium of Lucknow Super Giants. LSG scored 203/8 and bundled out MI for 191/5 and won by a thrilling 12 runs. But what was the most talked about moment of the night in yesterday’s match? Tilak Verma’s rare moment of ‘retiring out’ in the last over! Know why the MI team took this bold step, which shocked MI fans.
MI vs LSG 2025 – LSG beat MI in this thrilling match
LSG batted brilliantly in the beginning and gained momentum thanks to half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh scoring 60 runs off 31 balls and Aiden Markram scoring 53 runs off 38 balls. Mitchell Marsh smashed nine fours and two sixes in a blistering powerplay, while Markram was cautious. David Miller’s explosive innings of 27 runs off 15 balls took LSG past 200 in the final overs, while MI captain Hardik Pandya took a brilliant five-wicket haul for 36 runs for the first time in IPL. Nicholas Pooran scored 15 runs and Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 1 run. They could not convert a good start into a good total, but LSG’s score of 203/8 looked difficult on the Ekana Stadium pitch.
MI got off to a poor start and openers Will Jacks, for 5 runs, and Ryan Rickelton, for 10 runs, were soon dismissed by Akash Deep and Shardul Thakur. Naman Dheer played a strong knock of 46 runs off 24 balls and Suryakumar Yadav batted brilliantly with 67 runs off 43 balls and they kept MI in the match by sharing more than 50 runs.
Hardik Pandya’s explosive batting in the last over of 16 balls 28* raised the hopes of the team, but defending 22 runs in Avesh Khan’s last over, the victory became a possibility for LSG. Digvesh Rathi took 1 wicket for 21 runs and Shardul Thakur played a vital role in the death overs by taking 1 wicket for 21 runs, ensuring LSG’s sixth win in seven matches against MI.
LSG vs MI IPL Match 16: Why did Tilak Verma retire out?
Let’s come to the moment, which surprised everyone in yesterday’s match, Tilak Verma walked out of the field despite not being out! Chasing a target of 204, MI were 175/4 in 18 overs, needing 29 runs from the final two overs. Tilak was batting on 25 off 23 balls (strike rate 108.70), and was struggling to find his rhythm. With the required rate rising, MI took the tough decision to retire Tilak out in the 19th over and brought in Mitchell Santner, hoping for some quickfire action.
MI needed 24 off 7 balls when Tilak was dismissed in Shardul Thakur’s 19th over for just 7 runs. Santner managed to score two off the last ball, but Hardik couldn’t make it up despite hitting a six off the first ball of Avesh in the final over. The move backfired as MI crumbled at 191/5. Hardik later explained, “It was clear that we needed some big hits, and Tilak was not able to make them. Sometimes there are days in cricket when that doesn’t happen.” MI coach Mahela Jayawardene accepted the decision, saying that he waited for Tilak to get into the rhythm, but opted for a new batsman as he was unable to score runs quickly.
This was only the fourth time in IPL history that a batsman retired out, having done so before R Ashwin (2022), Atharva Tayade (2023) and Sai Sudharsan (2023). Fans on social media were divided, with some calling it a strategic masterstroke, while others have called it a big mistake, especially with Hardik Pandya at the crease.
Key Performances
Mitchell Marsh (LSG): Scored 60 off 31 balls and set the tone with a 69-run powerplay.
Hardik Pandya (MI): 5/36 and 28* off 16 balls, the lone warrior for MI.
Suryakumar Yadav (MI): 67 off 43 balls, excellent but not enough.
Digvesh Rathi (LSG): 1/21 anchored MI’s chase with mystery spin.
