Retire Out or Retire Hurt? - Rahul Dravid's Shocking Revelation On Rohit Sharma's Tactical Decision In Super Over

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid commended Rohit Sharma for his strategic decision to take himself in the first super over against Afghanistan during the third and final T20I of the series. Rahul Dravid described Rohit Sharma’s tactical move as ‘Ash-level thinking.’

Rohit Sharma, who scored an unbeaten 121 earlier in the day, showcased his prowess in the super over. The 36-year-old smashed two sixes during India’s chase of 17 runs. Rohit decided to retire before the final delivery, bringing in Rinku Singh as a quicker runner.

Needing two runs on the last delivery, Yashasvi Jaiswal secured a single, leading to yet another tie. If Rohit’s retirement was deliberate, it appeared to be a strategic move aimed at introducing a quicker runner for the decisive final ball, showcasing tactical thinking.

That’s Ash-Level Thinking – Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid suggested that Rohit Sharma was ‘retired out’ amidst confusion over the Indian skipper’s status. The head coach drew parallels to Ravichandran Ashwin’s ‘retired out’ during an IPL game in 2022.

“Taking himself out was Ashwin-level thinking. That’s Ash-level thinking,” Rahul Dravid said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

India defeated Afghanistan in the second superover in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The two teams scored 212 each, leading to the necessity of a super-over. Both teams scored 16 in the initial super-over, and an additional over was required to determine the winner.

India managed to score just 11 runs in the second one-over. Rohit Sharma entrusted spinner Ravi Bishnoi with the crucial over to defend a below-par score. Bishnoi secured two vital wickets in the second Super Over, playing a pivotal role in India’s remarkable win.

As per the ICC’s T20I playing conditions, a batsman dismissed in a Super Over is ineligible for subsequent Super Overs. ESPNcricinfo reports that umpires are yet to clarify whether Rohit retired hurt or out. If Rohit retired out, he wouldn’t be allowed to bat again.

“Any batsman dismissed in any previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over,” says one of the playing conditions set by the MCC.

“If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – not out’,” says Law 25.4.2 of the MCC.

“If a batter retires for any reason other than as in 25.4.2, 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’,” says Law 25.4.3.

I Have No Idea – Jonathan Trott

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott expressed uncertainty about whether Rohit Sharma retired hurt or retired out. Trott highlighted the constantly evolving nature of the rules and guidelines in cricket.

“I have no idea. Has there ever been two Super Overs? That’s what I am trying to say. It’s sort of like a new… we keep setting these new sort of rules. What I am trying to say is we kept testing the rules, we kept testing the guidelines,” Trott said in the post-match press conference.

Also read: IND vs AFG: “Parent Aur Coach Dono Banna Mushkil Hai” – Rahul Dravid On Coaching Son Samit