In a dramatic twist during the high-octane clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Mullanpur stadium, Devon Conway became the second player in IPL 2025 to be retired out, following Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Verma. The decision sent shockwaves through the cricketing world as CSK chased a mammoth target of 219.
Opening the innings for CSK, Conway initially struggled to find his groove but eventually unleashed a flurry of boundaries, notching up a crucial half-century. However, as the pressure mounted in the final overs, the New Zealand batter began to falter. In a bold move, CSK retired him out in the 18th over after he scored 69 off 49 balls, making way for Ravindra Jadeja. Despite the tactical switch, CSK fell short by 18 runs, leaving fans and pundits debating the decision.
Tilak Varma’s Retirement Out: A Precursor to Conway’s Exit
This wasn’t the first time a team opted for the ‘retired out’ strategy in IPL 2025. Earlier in the season, Mumbai Indians made headlines when they retired Tilak Verma during a chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Mitchell Santner was sent in as his replacement, a move that sparked widespread criticism. MI’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene and captain Hardik Pandya faced the heat from fans for what many deemed a questionable call.
Post-match, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad shed light on the decision to retire Conway. “He’s more of a timer of the ball, very useful up the order. When you have Jaddu, known for that finishing role, you expect that. Initially, Conway was timing it well, but as he started struggling, we had to make the call,” Gaikwad explained during the presentation ceremony.
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