'Very odd': CSK criticised for retiring out Ayush Mhatre on 59 off 36

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings pulled off a rare and controversial tactical move during their IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, leaving fans stunned.

In the final overs of a high-scoring innings at Chepauk, CSK decided to retire out youngster Ayush Mhatre despite him scoring a fluent 59, a call that quickly sparked debate across social media.

Mhatre had played a key role in building the innings, striking 59 off 36 balls with a mix of controlled aggression and smart shot selection.

He shared a strong partnership with Sanju Samson, who went on to score a blistering unbeaten 115, as CSK piled up an imposing 212/2 in their 20 overs. With momentum firmly in their favour, the decision to retire Mhatre in the 18th over raised eyebrows.

As Mhatre walked off, he was patted on the back by teammates.

Power-hitter Shivam Dube walked in immediately, signalling CSK’s intent to maximise runs in the death overs with a more aggressive option at the crease.

Dube delivered a quick cameo, scoring 20 off just 10 balls, helping CSK maintain their scoring rate above 10 per over.

However, the move didn’t sit well with fans.

Social media was flooded with reactions, many calling the decision “very odd” and questioning why a well-set batter was taken off at a crucial stage.

While retire-outs have been used tactically in the IPL before, it remains a rare sight, especially when a batter is nearing a bigger milestone or is already scoring at a brisk pace.

This was the latest addition to a short list of retire-outs in IPL history, which includes players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Atharva Taide, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, and Devon Conway. Still, Mhatre’s case stood out due to the match situation and his solid contribution.