Stay mentally tough: Coach advises Tilak after retired out call

RETIRING out Tilak Varma left everyone bewildered, be it former cricketers-turned-pundits, die-hard fans, or the childhood coach of the Hyderabad batter Salam Bayash.

- FIROZ MIRZA @ Chennai

RETIRING out Tilak Varma left everyone bewildered, be it former cricketers-turned-pundits, die-hard fans, or the childhood coach of the Hyderabad batter Salam Bayash. "It was beyond anyone's understanding," coach Salam told this daily. Playing as an impact player, Tilak was batting on 25 off 23 alongside skipper Hardik Pandya when the call was made. At that time, Mumbai Indians needed 24 from the last seven balls against hosts Lucknow Super Giants on Friday.

What followed was bizarre. As Tilak started walking back to the pavilion and New Zealand limited-overs skipper Mitchell Santner was getting in to replace him, Suryakumar Yadav, sitting in the MI dugout, looked visibly upset and apparently protested the move. Such was India's T20I skipper's displeasure that MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene reportedly had to rush towards him to explain the rationale behind the move.