New Delhi [India]: Former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh were not pleased with the Mumbai Indians’ choice to throw out Tilak Varma in the last over of the thrilling match against the Lucknow Super Giants.

When Mumbai successfully reduced the equation to 29 required from 12 deliveries while chasing a formidable 204-run mark in Lucknow’s home den, the mood was electrifying. Shardul Thakur, the team’s most seasoned fast, was given the task of seeing off the penultimate by Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant.

One can only anticipate a top-tier, aggressive strokeplay that results in devastation when Tilak and Hardik Pandya are holding the striker and non-striker’s ends.

Hardik also failed in his effort to argue for Mumbai’s triumph, but Tilak, who had been having trouble establishing limits up to that moment, persisted. Mumbai made the decision to replace Tilak with Mitchell Santner five balls into the penultimate, which raised concerns about the visitors’ strategy.

The five-time winners gave up a 12-run loss, their third in the 18th season of the lucrative Indian Premier League, despite Tilak’s retirement.

Harbhajan considered it a “mistake” to retire Tilak for Santner. He even asked if Tilak is a better ball striker than the white-ball captain of New Zealand. If a player of his caliber or a power batter like Pollard had replaced Tilak, Harbhajan would have been happy with the choice.

“I think it was a mistake to retire Tilak for Santer. Does Santner outperform Tilak as a hitter? I could understand if it had been for Pollard or another good hitter. However, I disagree with this. Harbhajan wrote on X, “Come on.”

“Tilak Verma retired out n Santner coming in?,” Irfan posted on X after attempting, but failing, to understand the decision. I don’t understand it. What are your thoughts, guys?

After the game, Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach of the Mumbai Indians, responded to inquiries over the contentious choice. Santner replacing Tilak was deemed “tactical” by him, and he required a new player to lower the skyrocketing asking rate as the game was approaching to an end.

The decision to retire Tilak was “obvious” to Mumbai captain Hardik, who said in the post-match presentation that “we needed some hits.” In cricket, there are days like that. when it doesn’t come off despite your best efforts.”