Sophie Devine believes we should get used to seeing batters walk off before they are dismissed. The former New Zealand captain, now turning out for Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League, thinks the “retired-out” call will settle in as a normal weapon in the T20 armoury, even if it still makes some supporters cringe.
“It’s going to spark a fair bit of debate in terms of how people view it. I think for me, it’s just another tool and another strategic option to use,” Devine said during a media session arranged by the Giants.
Two retire-outs in two nights have pushed the subject up the agenda. First, Gujarat told Ayushi Soni to head back to the dug-out against Mumbai Indians. Twenty-four hours later UP Warriorz applied the same tactic to Harleen Deol, who was 47 from 36 at the time. Social media, predictably, went straight to its corners.
“At the end of the day, those decisions are always made with the team coming first and what’s going to be best for the team to be able to gain momentum. Some people will love it, some people will hate it. I think it’s a great option to be able to use.”
Retire-out—different from retire-hurt, which allows a batter to return—has been legal for years but rarely used. That is changing. So far in 2026 six men’s franchise sides have tried it. Northern Districts even did it in back-to-back overs in New Zealand’s Super Smash, while Melbourne Renegades pulled Mohammad Rizwan mid-innings in the Big Bash.
“I hope that players that do get retired out can see it in a positive light that they want to be able to contribute to the team and they’re doing what’s best for the team,” Devine added. “It’s a really tricky one because I guess it’s never nice if you are retired out. But I think we will see more of it. We’re obviously starting to see a little bit more in the men’s game as well, and I think the women’s game will follow suit.
“In saying that, if players are being able to stay at a good strike rate, yeah, I guess you probably don’t need to use it as much. So it is really interesting to see how different teams will use it, but I think to have that as an option is something that should only be seen as a positive.”
There is, of course, a flip side. When UPW removed Deol they were 141-for-4 after 17 overs. They scraped only 13 more runs and crashed to 155 all out. Call it the devil in the data: sometimes the fresh hitter finds nothing to hit.
“You’re not always going to get it right, and that’s just like any decision in cricket, whether that be the bowler that you bring on or the shot that you choose to play, there’s always going to be times where it comes off and it doesn’t come off, and that’s just part and parcel of playing a game.”
Devine also prefers the manoeuvre to the IPL’s Impact Player rule, which lets teams substitute mid-match.
“Obviously, we don’t have the Impact Player rule [unlike the IPL]. I am more of a fan of being able to retire people out rather than having an impact player, because I like the idea that you can do all skills, or certainly bat and still be able to go on the field. So yeah, I think it will be something that will become more and more common.”
Why the surge now? Runs are king in T20 leagues, and analytical staff are increasingly ruthless. If an opener slows below the asking rate, the numbers suggest a change. Retire-out simply removes the hesitation.
For all the theory, handling the human angle remains key. Devine repeatedly stressed communication. A player told in advance that a selfless exit may be required is far more likely to accept it. Dress it up badly, and you risk losing the dressing room.
The debate will roll on. Like the switch-hit or the scoop, retire-out feels odd until it doesn’t. For now, it sits in cricket’s tool-box, ready for coaches daring—or desperate—enough to reach for it.
