India and Rajasthan Royals off-spinner R Ashwin is no stranger to pulling off unconventional moves on the cricket field. If his ‘controversial’ run-outs and run-attempts weren’t enough to grab the headlines; in Sunday’s Lucknow vs Rajasthan game, Ash found another novel way to make a name for himself as one of the pioneers of the modern T20 game.

R Ashwin walks off the field despite not being given out

During the 18th over of Rajasthan’s batting, Ashwin- who had been sent to bat at number 6 and had scored 28 off 22 deliveries- walked off the ground voluntarily. There was no means of dismissal involved; Ash, from the looks of it, just independently decided to walk off the ground to send another batter to face the remaining deliveries. And in the process, he became the first player in the 15-year-history of the tournament to retire themself out.

Ashwin, retired out, but played his part. 👏🙏 pic.twitter.com/p1hD9xAVL7

— Harish Jangid (@HarishJ56732474) April 10, 2022

The move produced some interesting results, as Riyan Parag- the player who replaced Ashwin at the crease- played a four-ball cameo of 8-runs and scored a six. And considering the affluent form Shimron Hetmyer was in at the other end, it could be said that Ashwin’s decision aided Rajasthan’s cause to a reasonable extent.

When Hetmyer was asked about Ashwin’s ‘dismissal’, he revealed he had no involvement in the situation. “I had no idea about it. He (R Ashwin) was also a bit tired. It was a good decision, as the kid (Parag) hit a six for us,” Hetmyer told in his mid-innings briefing.

“It was a team decision”- Sanju Samson on Ashwin’s dismissal

On the other hand, Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson hinted that Ashwin’s retirement was a ‘team decision’. “It’s about being Rajasthan Royals. We keep trying different things. Have been talking about it before the season. We thought that if some situation occurs, we can use it. Was a team decision”, Samson was heard telling in his post-match interview.

We couldn’t agree more with Samson when he talked about the Rajasthan team trying to do ‘different things’,; and with innovative thinkers of the game like Ravi Ashwin involved, who knows? We might just be in line for some more interesting decisions from the RR contingent.

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But regardless of the decision and its subsequent outcome, Ashwin has become the first batter in IPL to retire himself out. In franchise T20 cricket overall, he is preceded by just a singular instance of Sunzamul Islam doing the same in the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League.

R Ashwin becomes the first player to retire-out in IPL.

Second to do it in franchise T20 leagues after Sunzamul Islam during 2019 Bangladesh Premier League.#IPL2022 #DCvKKR

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) April 10, 2022