IPL 2022 | Tactician Ashwin compares T20 game to soccer after 'Retire Out' saga

Champion Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has garnered a lot of praise for his decision to 'retire out' during the recent game between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Ashwin, who scored a crucial 23-ball 28 against Lucknow, went into the crease when Rajasthan were struggling at 67/4 inside the 10-over mark. However, the bowling all-rounder went back to the pavilion when 10 balls were remaining in the innings before Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag took the lead.

After the game, Rajasthan's head coach Kumar Sangakkara revealed that the decision had been taken by keeping Ashwin in the loop and that the off-spinner was well-and-truly up such a thing.

Ashwin has now broken his silence on the events of Sunday night. Speaking to Cricbuzz, the Tamil Nadu cricketer used an analogy from soccer to explain how T20 is more a team game than people realize.

"T20 is more a team game than we all know. It is almost as much as football. The goal scorers are like your opening batter or wicket-takers. But they are worth it only if your goalkeeper or defenders are ready to do what it takes," explained Ashwin.

Terming 'retired out' as an essential aspect of the game, Ashwin said, "It was an in the moment thing. It's a team game that we often forget in the euphoria. But then it's an important aspect of the game we haven't considered.

What Ashwin did is ideally in sync with the laws of the game.

Law 25.4.3 states: "If a batter retires for any reason other than (injury or illness)… the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his/ her innings is not resumed, that batter is to be recorded as 'Retired - out'."

The ICC has taken cognizance of Ashwin's decision to 'retire out' and could be a norm in the upcoming T20 World Cup.