'Retired Out' or 'Retired Hurt': The Rohit Sharma controversy in the third T20I

India secured a hard-fought victory against Afghanistan in the nail-biting third T20I in Bengaluru. However, the post-match discussions were dominated by a perplexing question surrounding India's captain, Rohit Sharma - did he retire out or retire hurt during the dramatic Super Over showdown?

The intensity of the match reached its pinnacle when it took not one but two Super Overs to determine the winner. The focus shifted to Rohit Sharma's participation in the second Super Over, creating a buzz of speculation and debate among fans and analysts alike.

According to the ICC's playing conditions for Men's T20Is, any batsman dismissed in any previous Super Over is ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over. The ambiguity arose as match officials refrained from clarifying whether Rohit Sharma retired out or retired hurt. 

In a retired hurt scenario, the batter is marked 'retired not out' and retains eligibility to bat again.

Rohit Sharma, who had earlier showcased his batting prowess with an unbeaten 121, played a pivotal role in the first Super Over. He set the stage for a thrilling finish by hitting two sixes and a single off the third, fourth, and fifth balls. 

However, with two runs required off the last ball, a strategic decision was made at the non-striker's end. Rinku Singh replaced Rohit, sparking speculation about the nature of Rohit's exit.

The strategic move led to a second Super Over after Yashasvi Jaiswal managed an edged single off the last ball, again levelling the scores. 

Rohit Sharma, if he indeed retired out, walked out to bat once more in the second Super Over, opening alongside Rinku Singh.

Rohit's second Super Over stint saw him hitting a six and a four off the first two balls, contributing to India's score of 11 for 2. The pressure intensified when Ravi Bishnoi swiftly ended Afghanistan's chase with wickets off his first two balls, securing the victory for India.

During the post-match discussions, India's coach, Rahul Dravid, drew parallels between Rohit's tactical retirement and R Ashwin's similar move in an IPL game in 2022. Dravid commended Rohit's strategic thinking: "Taking himself out was Ashwin-level thinking."

Afghanistan's coach, Jonathan Trott, on the other hand, expressed uncertainty about the communication between match officials and the teams. Trott questioned the lack of clarity regarding whether Rohit Sharma had retired hurt or retired out. 

He also highlighted Afghanistan's choice of bowler for the second Super Over, emphasising the need for better communication and understanding of the rules.
With its unprecedented two Super Overs, the match left Trott contemplating the need for clearer communication and adherence to established regulations.