There is indication that Tilak Varma is set to part ways with his team, Mumbai Indians (MI), based on the available information. However, recent events involving Tilak have stirred controversy during the IPL 2025 season.
Tilak Varma, a key young player for the Mumbai Indians (MI), recently made headlines when fans noticed that he had removed mentions of MI from his Instagram bio. This change occurred after MI’s controversial loss to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an IPL 2025 match, where Tilak was retired out during the chase, sparking speculation about his reaction to the decision.
Tilak played very slowly
During the match, Tilak scored 25 runs off 23 balls but struggled to accelerate as the required run rate climbed. MI made the tactical decision to retire him out in the 19th over, replacing him with Mitchell Santner. However, this move did not yield success, as MI fell short by 12 runs. Fans and analysts have debated whether Tilak’s removal from the bio was a direct response to this incident or coincidental. Notably, Tilak also removed references to “India A” and “Hyderabad” from his profile, leaving only motivational text and contact information.
The move sparked debate and criticism from fans and experts alike, with many questioning the logic behind retiring a proven batter like Tilak Varma. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene defended the decision as tactical, emphasizing the need for fresh legs in a high-pressure situation. Captain Hardik Pandya also took responsibility for the loss and explained that Tilak was struggling to hit boundaries, which led to the unusual call.
While there is no official statement from Tilak or MI confirming any discord, fans continue to speculate about possible tensions between Tilak and the team. This development has added intrigue to MI’s challenging IPL 2025 season, which has already seen criticism of captain Hardik Pandya’s decisions and management strategies.
