IPL 2024: Blow for CSK as injured Devon Conway ruled out until May

CSK opener Devon Conway will be sidelined for at least eight weeks due to his left thumb injury.

The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a major setback ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Star opener Devon Conway will be sidelined for at least eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his left thumb, effectively ruling him out of the first half of the tournament.

The New Zealand opener Conway sustained the injury during the recently concluded T20I series against Australia and missed the opening test against the same team. Following consultations with specialists, the decision was made for surgery to ensure a proper recovery.

The 32-year-old batter was a vital cog in CSK’s successful IPL 2023 campaign, where he smashed a staggering 672 runs in 16 innings at an impressive average of 51.69 with a blistering strike rate of 139.82. His aggressive opening partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad was a key factor in CSK’s title run. He scored six half-centuries with the best score of 92*.

Conway was also the highest run scorer in the IPL 2023 final against the Gujarat Titans and was adjudged Player of the Match in the IPL 2023 final. His absence is a significant blow to CSK’s batting line-up in the upcoming IPL 2024 season. The team management now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for the first half of the tournament.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead said on the southpaw as quoted by ICC, “We are all feeling for Devon.”

“He is a massive part of the Black Caps and we are going to miss his presence both on and off the field. We wish him all the best for his surgery and we will be there to support him as he begins his recovery,” he added.

CSK fans will be hoping for a quick recovery for Conway and his return to bolster the batting line-up in the crucial second half of the IPL 2024 season. MS Dhoni-led CSK play their opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22 in Chennai.

Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2024

MS Dhoni (c), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly.

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