In a groundbreaking event in women's T20 franchise cricket, Ayushi Soni has made history by becoming the first player to be retired out during a match. This unusual occurrence took place in the Women's Premier League (WPL) when she was dismissed in this unconventional manner while representing Gujarat Giants against Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium. But here's where it gets controversial—retiring out is rare enough in men's cricket, and its appearance in the women's league sparks many questions about game tactics and sportsmanship.
Soni, who was making her debut in the WPL, came in to bat at the sixth position and struggled to find her rhythm. She scored 11 runs off 14 balls and had yet to hit a boundary when, at the end of the 16th over, the team decided to retire her out, with the score standing at 135 runs. This was only the second recorded instance of a player being retired out in a women’s franchise T20 competition; the first occurred in 2024 when Kathryn Bryce of Manchester Originals was retired out for the Hundred against Northern Superchargers.
Adding context, Soni had been drafted into the Gujarat Giants' lineup as a replacement for Anushka Sharma, who had to withdraw due to a minor injury sustained while fielding in their earlier game against Delhi Capitals. This move was part of the strategic decisions coaches make to adapt to player availability and match situations.
After Soni's retirement, Bharti Fulmali stepped in, facing the first two balls and initially being given out lbw—only to be saved by successful reviews. She then made a remarkable impact by scoring an unbeaten 36 off just 15 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes, helping her team to set a target of 192 for 5. Her partnership with Georgia Wareham, which added 56 runs, proved pivotal in Gujarat Giants' batting strategy.
Team coach Michael Klinger explained the decision-making process behind retiring Soni out: “We discussed with Ayushi and Georgia during the break, focusing on increasing the team's scoring rate. The aim was to maximize our scoring potential in the final overs, especially with Bharti as a powerful hitter ready to take charge. The decision was made after consulting with coaching staff and players, and in hindsight, it proved to be a smart strategy, adding roughly 20 extra runs to our total.”
Klinger emphasized that although it's a tough decision for the individual player, it was necessary for the team's success. “We've spoken with Ayushi, and we're supporting her to maintain her confidence. Sometimes, such tactical calls can make a difference between 190 and 170 runs,” he noted. He further praised Soni's efforts in her debut, recognizing her contributions during her partnership with Wareham, but reaffirmed that the team’s focus was on employing the best strategy for the situation.
Interestingly, Klinger clarified that this incident did not influence subsequent fielding decisions involving Soni, who later dropped Harmanpreet Kaur twice in the final moments of the chase, as Mumbai Indians secured victory. And this is the part most people miss—retiring out is a strategic choice, often debated for its fairness, but when used thoughtfully, can be a valuable tactic.
Beyond the women's leagues, the phenomenon of retired outs is also making waves in men's cricket. Just thirteen days into the year, there have already been six instances in men's T20s, including notable cases like Mohammad Rizwan’s retirement out in the Big Bash League (BBL). Recent examples include a scenario where two players retired in the same innings, highlighting how this tactic is gaining attention across formats.
While some view this as a strategic tool to optimize team performance, others raise questions about the sportsmanship and integrity of such decisions. Do you believe that retiring out can be justified as part of smart cricket strategy, or does it undermine the spirit of fair play? Share your thoughts below!
