Why is ‘Retiring Out’ becoming common in T20 cricket?

Retired outs are getting more common in the shortest format of the game with each passing day. Teams are using the rule to make optimal use of the ammunition in their batting lineup. This week, Mohammad Rizwan was retired out in a Big Bash League (BBL) encounter, while the Women's Premier League (WPL) witnessed Ayushi Soni and Harleen Deol suffer the same fate.

It is important not to mix up retired hurt with retired out. When a batter gets retired hurt, due to an injury or any similar circumstance, he or she can come out to bat later in the innings. Essentially, the batter remains not out and can resume his innings at any point in the innings. On the other hand, when a batter is retired out, the innings comes to an end and he or she cannot return to bat.

The first couple of instances when a batter retired out in Test cricket took place in the second game of the Asian Test Championship in 2001. After bundling out Bangladesh for 90, Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene ‘retired out’ after scoring 201 and 150, respectively.

On the other hand, Bhutan's Sonam Tobgay became the first batter in T20I cricket to retire out. However, the rule gained popularity during IPL 2022, when Ravichandran Ashwin became the first batter to retire out in the tournament's history. Riyan Parag replaced him at the crease and scored a quickfire eight off four balls in the last over.

Why is ‘Retire-Out’ becoming common in T20 Cricket?

So, why is the retired out rule being used so frequently these days in T20 cricket? The answer is quite simple. Teams have gained knowledge about the T20 format as the years have gone by, and now they fully understand the importance of each and every delivery.

There are only 120 balls to be bowled in an innings, and it is imperative for a team to give its best batters the maximum chance to make an impact. There is no point having a batter at the crease who is having an off day, not being able to score runs freely.

Instead, if a hard-hitter is waiting for his chance to bludgeon the opposition bowlers, there is no point keeping him away from the action, just because a batter who is already at the crease has spent considerable time in the middle.

The strategy is expected to be used more often in the times to come, reaping its benefits in T20 cricket.