Faf du Plessis admits he pondered 'retiring out' during IPL innings

Du Plessis scored 73 not out off 50 balls as Bangalore made 192/3 off 20 overs, before dismissing Hyderabad for 125.

However, in his post-match interview, Du Plessis said he wanted to get in-form Dinesh Kartik to the crease earlier.

With the departure of Glenn Maxwell for 33 (off 24 balls), Karthik eventually arrived in the 19th over and smacked 30 not out off just eight balls.

"If he keeps hitting sixes like that, everyone always wants to get him in and bat for as long as possible. But he's just so clear. I mean, to be honest with you, I was actually trying to get out because I was so tired to get DK (Karthik) in and we were even contemplating, you know, myself retiring," Du Plessis told commentator Harsha Bhogle during the post-match presentation.

Bhogle double checked to make sure if Du Plessis meant what he said, with the former Proteas captain confirming: "Retiring out, yes. But then we lost that wicket.

"Yeah, DK is in such good form. But it was a tricky wicket. It wasn't one of those wickets where you could just come in - I think it was not evident with DK but with other guys, the first few balls, they struggled. And then lucky for us, I think there was a dropped catch off DK in that one over and then he took them apart."

"DK is in such good form"Faf du Plessis was considering retiring himself out in order to bring in Dinesh Karthik against the Sunrisers yesterday #IPL2022

A player retiring out occurred for the first time in the IPL last month, when Rajasthan Royals' Ravichandran Ashwin walked off to give Riyan Parag a slog.

Du Plessis' Royal Challangers Bangalore are fourth on the IPL standings with seven wins from 12 matches.