Sophie Devine on 'retired out' trend in T20 cricket

Over the last two days in the Women's Premier League, two players have been dismissed retired out: debutant Ayushi Soni by Gujarat Giants and senior player Harleen Deol by UP Warriorz. This form of dismissal is part of a larger trend emerging across T20 tournaments globally, with as many as eight players retired out in the first 14 days of 2026 across SA20, BBL, WPL and Super Smash.

Gujarat Giants all-rounder Sophie Devine has backed the practice, but acknowledges it may divide opinion.

"It's going to spark a fair bit of debate in terms of how people view it," Devine said. "For me, it's just another tool and another strategic option to use. 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 gain momentum.

"Some people will love it, some people will hate it. But I think it's a great option to be able to use. I hope that players that do get retired out can see it in a positive light—that they're contributing to the team and doing what's best. I guess we will see more of it."

With the rise of power-hitters and phase-specific players in women's cricket, a trend more common in the men's game is likely to become more frequent.

"We're obviously starting to see it a little bit more in the men's game as well and I think the women's game will follow suit. It is really interesting to see how different teams will use it, but to have that as an option is something that should only be seen as a positive."

Recently, it hasn't only been struggling batters retired out, but also those less suited to certain phases—such as Roston Chase making way for Sherfane Rutherford in the SA20. This challenges the conventional logic that settled batters are better placed to accelerate than new ones. However, with T20's evolution training certain players to hit from ball one, retiring batters tactically has gained merit.

Still, the move doesn't always pay off. Harleen Deol's retirement, for example, was followed by a drop in scoring rate for UP Warriorz in the death overs against Delhi Capitals.

"You're not always going to get it right and that's just like any decision in cricket," Devine admitted. "There's always going to be times where it comes off and it doesn't—that's part and parcel of the game. We will see it come into the game more and more. The exciting thing is how teams want to use it and the impact that it can have.

"Obviously, we don't have the impact player rule. I'm probably more 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. I think it will become more and more common."

Devine stressed that clear communication is vital, especially when younger players like Soni are involved.

"Communication is really important and understanding the reasoning behind why you would have retired someone out," she said. "I think that's what [coach] Klinger did—speak to Ayushi around the reasoning why he made that decision.

"For me, it's for the benefit of the team and putting the team first. That needs to be really well communicated, with follow-up after the game or the next day to explain what can be done differently and opportunities to improve.

"Communication is so key, and it's not just in retiring players out. Clear communication can help players have clarity around their role and what's required in different game situations."