IPL 2025: Costliest captaincy mistakes of the season

4. Tilak being retired out during crucial juncture of run-chase (LSG vs MI, Match 16)

LSG had set MI a 204-run target after the latter sent the hosts in with the bat. Tilak Varma replaced Naman Dhir at the crease after Dhir was dismissed for a brisk 24-ball 46 knock. 115 runs were required from 11 overs with Suryakumar Yadav at the other end. While Suryakumar was being able to register boundaries on a regular basis, it was quite the opposite for Tilak. The southpaw was only able to score 13 runs off his first 15 deliveries. Suryakumar was later dismissed for 67 off 43.

Hardik joined Tilak in the middle. He had scored the same number of boundaries (two fours) in his first seven balls as compared to Tilak in 21 balls at the end of the 18th over. Tilak was retired out on the penultimate delivery of the 19th over on 25 off 23. MI required 24 off seven deliveries at that point. They ended up on the wrong side of the result by 12 runs. Many experts and supporters believed that Hardik should've advocated for a batter of Tilak's calibre to not get relegated to the dressing room in place of Mitchell Santner.