Ravichandran Ashwin feels the IPL is already late in using “retired out” as a tactical move and after becoming the first batter to do so in the league, the India spinner expects to see a lot more of it in the near future.

Ashwin, batting at No. 6 for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday, was retired out after two balls in the 19th over to make way for Riyan Parag. Ashwin had scored 28 off 23 balls.

“T20, as a sport, is heading towards where football has reached. Just like how they’re using substitutions, I did something similar (retiring out). Already we’re late, but I believe this will happen a lot in the coming days.

“I don’t think it will be a stigma like running someone out at the non-striker’s end,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

He does think, however, that it might not always work. “These things happen constantly in football, and we haven’t cracked T20 cricket fully yet. This is a millennial sport. This is the next generation’s sport.”