'Asking rate spiraled out of control...': Chawla critiques CSK's timing in Conway's retirement
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Synopsis
Chennai Super Kings' controversial decision to retire Devon Conway during IPL 2025 has drawn criticism from Piyush Chawla, who argued that the timing was ineffective. The move came too late to influence the game's outcome, exacerbating CSK's challenges in their match against Punjab Kings.
Key Takeaways
- CSK's retirement of Conway raised questions about timing.
- Piyush Chawla highlighted Conway's technical batting style.
- Conway had a significant partnership with Rachin Ravindra.
- Frequent wickets hampered CSK's chase.
- MS Dhoni's contribution kept CSK in the match until the end.
New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) The choice of Chennai Super Kings to retire out Devon Conway during their 18-run defeat against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 has ignited discussions. Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla opined that this decision was made far too late to have any significant effect on the match.
Conway became the second player this season to be retired out, following Tilak Varma of Mumbai Indians. Chawla argues that the tactical switch should have occurred when the situation was still salvageable.
"Conway possesses a strong technical foundation and doesn't often attempt aerial shots. This was evident during the middle overs; even when attempting a pull shot, he executed it like a seasoned batsman," Chawla mentioned on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut show.
"They overlooked a critical moment. While Shivam Dube was aiming for big hits, Conway refrained from taking risks. At one point, it seemed he aimed to carry the innings deep. However, if you want to extend the game, allowing the asking rate to spiral is counterproductive," Chawla explained.
Conway shared a 61-run opening partnership with Rachin Ravindra and later teamed up with Dube to amass another 89 runs off just 51 balls. By the time Dube was dismissed, requiring 69 runs from 25 balls, Conway had scored a mere 9 runs from the next six deliveries before CSK opted to retire him out.
Frequent wickets, however, disrupted CSK's momentum. MS Dhoni managed a brisk 27 off 12 balls, keeping the chase alive until his departure in the final over, leaving CSK 18 runs short.
"It seemed too late. If retiring him was the plan, it could have been executed two or three overs sooner. A new batter needs a few balls to acclimate before going hard. Retiring him when the required run rate was already escalating was counterproductive," the former spinner concluded.
