New Delhi: Ahead of Mumbai Indians important IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Mahela Jayawardene expressed confidence in left-handed batsman Tilak Varma. This follows Varmas early removal from a previous game against Lucknow Super Giants which Mumbai Indians lost. Tilak Varma had a disappointing performance against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow. He was dismissed in the second to last over scoring 25 runs from 23 balls with two boundaries. He struggled to connect effectively with the ball throughout his innings hindering his ability to score big runs. Social media reacted strongly to Tilak Varmas retirement from the team with fans criticizing captain Hardik and coach Jayawardenes decision. Tilak Varmas retirement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) marked only the fourth instance of this unusual tactic in the leagues history. His coach Mahela Jayawardene subsequently defended the decision as a strategic move. Jayawardene explained that adjusting batting orders to counter specific bowling attacks is a common modern strategy not a taboo. He defended this approach noting that even successful batters face periods of struggle and highlighted a players recent strong performance and crucial partnerships. The coach explained his decision to replace the player stating that while he values the players experience his recent performance in Lucknow was subpar. The coach opted for a substitute who had performed well in previous matches. Nothing to do with Tilak Jayawardene explained that the decision to make the call was a strategic one unrelated to batter Tilak Varmas performance. He expressed confidence in Varmas ability to succeed against RCBs Rajat Patidar. Jayawardene explained that Tilak Varmas absence from the previous match was a strategic decision not a reflection of his ability. He expects Varma to perform strongly in the next game. Jayawardene emphasized Varmas significant value to the team. The coach confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will play in the next game at Wankhede Stadium. Rohit Sharma absent from the previous match against Lucknow is also anticipated to participate in the upcoming game against Virat Kohlis team. The Mumbai Indians five-time champions are currently eighth in the standings and urgently need a victory to improve their position.