Flashback: When Ravichandran Ashwin became first batter to be tactically retired out in the IPL
The incident took place during IPL 2022.
2 Min Read
Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on 27 August 2025. While the cricketer was known for his bowling but he made some memorable moments with the bat. Notably, in the 2022 edition, while playing for the Rajasthan Royals, he became the first batter in IPL history to be tactically retired out.
The incident occurred in April 2022, during the Rajasthan Royals’ clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium. Ashwin, promoted to bat at No. 6, anchored the innings with a 28 off 23 balls. But just when the game was nearing its last phase, he walked off voluntarily in the 19th over.
With the scorecard reading 135 for 4, Ashwin made way for Riyan Parag to join Shimron Hetmyer, who was already set. Parag managed only eight runs off four balls, but Hetmyer’s unbeaten 59 guided the Royals to 165, with the team eventually winning by three runs.
Check out the video below:
These things happen constantly in football: Ashwin
Notably, when the incident took place, even Hetmyer revealed mid-match that he had no clue what the Tamil Nadu-born was doing when he started walking back. Later, both the Royals’ management and Ashwin himself clarified that it was a pre-discussed decision. Kumar Sangakkara, the head coach, revealed that the 38-year-old had suggested it from the middle, and the team backed the call. Later, Ashwin explained that the decision was no different from football substitutions.
"It might work sometimes and it might not work sometimes. These things happen constantly in football, and we haven't cracked T20 cricket fully yet. This is a millennial sport. This is the next generation's sport. In fact, if you see in football, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score goals frequently. But their team's goalkeeper should also save goals and their defenders should defend well. Only then, a Messi or Ronaldo will be in the limelight. T20, as a sport, is heading towards where football has reached. Just like how they're using substitutions, I did something similar [retiring out]. Already we're late, but I believe this will happen a lot in the coming days. I don't think it will be a stigma like running someone out at the non-striker's end," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
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