In a major setback for the defending IPL champion Chennai Super Kings, their destructive opener Devon Conway has been ruled out of action until May after undergoing surgery on his left thumb last week. The Kiwi batting dynamo, who starred in CSK’s title triumph last season, is set to miss over half of the franchise’s title defense owing to the injury layoff.
Conway sustained the thumb injury during New Zealand’s recent T20I series against Australia, forcing him out of the subsequent Test matches, too. Following consultations, the 31-year-old went under the knife, with doctors prescribing nearly eight weeks of recovery time.
With such a massive void at the top, CSK could turn to the elegant Rachin Ravindra as a like-for-like replacement. The promising New Zealand batter was roped in for a hefty Rs 1.8 crore following his exploits at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Ravindra himself is recovering from a knee niggle picked up versus Australia.
As the titleholders initially brace for life without their ‘Run Machine’ Conway, fans anxiously await the star opener’s return to bolster CSK’s bid for an incredible fifth IPL crown. The tournament curtain-raiser sees them clash with Bangalore at Chepauk on March 22.
