Former India off-spinner was not surprised when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retired out who was batting 59 off 36 deliveries in the 18th over of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals (DC). While many CSK fans on social media criticised the move, Ashwin feels that the swap to bring in should’ve come earlier as there were two tired batters in the middle.
“Ayush Mhatre played really well, scored 50 off 30 [27] balls, but Brevis or Dube can hit 3-4 sixes in an over. They have that ability. If there were two 20-run overs, then the score would have been 240. CSK were at 160 after the 15th over mark, and DC did a solid comeback from there, why? Because they had two tired batters in Ayush and Sanju. I was not surprised. According to me, it was a bit late and should have been done sooner,” Ashwin said in his YouTube channel.
Why CSK’s move to retire out Mhatre was justified?
Mhatre reached his fifty with a six on the first ball of the 15th over. He reached the milestone from just 27 deliveries. The youngster scored nine runs from the next nine balls which led to the challenge. Also, he was dropped on 54 in the 16th over of Mukesh Kumar’s bowling. In the next over bowled by Lungi Ngidi, only five singles were scored.
Mhatre became the sixth batter to be retired out in IPL history. The first to be retired out was Ashwin in 2022 when he was batting on a 23-ball 28 for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Mhatre is second CSK batter to achieve the feat. Devon Conway was retired out for a 49-ball 69.
Did Dube do justice to CSK’s call?
Dube arrived at the creased with 15 balls left in the innings. He got a single off the first ball and then Samson reached his century with a four, following it up by another. Dube hit Ngidi for a boundary off the first ball of the penultimate over. In the final over, he hit Mukesh for a six and a four. Samson’s unbeaten 115 and Dube’s 10-ball 20 cameo helped CSK post 212/2 on the board.