Explained: What is the difference between 'Retired Hurt' and 'Retired Out' in cricket?

During the IPL 2025 clash between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday, CSK made a tactical decision to retire out opener Devon Conway.

Batting on 69 off 49 balls, Conway left the crease in the 18th over, replaced by Ravindra Jadeja, with CSK needing 49 runs from 13 balls to chase down a 220-run target. The decision was tactical — not injury-related — but CSK fell short, losing by 18 runs.

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This was the second instance this IPL season of a player being retired out, following Mumbai Indians' use of the same move with Tilak Varma against Lucknow Super Giants. So, what exactly does retired out mean, and how is it different from the more common term retired hurt?

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In cricket, a batter who leaves the field due to injury or illness is deemed retired hurt (also known as retired – not out). Crucially, they can return later in the innings — if fit and if their team hasn't lost all its wickets. Statistically, they are not considered out, and their innings continues if they return.




In contrast, the retired out is a strategic decision. The batter voluntarily leaves the field — not because of injury — and cannot return to bat again. It's essentially a self-declared dismissal, used to bring in a new batter who may better suit the match situation.

While rare, these tactical moves are now gaining attention, adding a new layer to T20 strategy and forcing fans and broadcasters to rethink the term “retired.”


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