The Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 8 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mullanpur brought a moment of tactical drama that left fans scratching their heads. With CSK chasing a daunting 200-run target, opener Devon Conway, who had fought his way to 69 runs off 49 balls, was unexpectedly retired out in the 18th over.Â
The move, a rare sight in T20 cricket, did not pay off as CSK fell 18 runs short, handing PBKS a victory powered by Priyansh Arya’s blazing 42-ball 103-run knock.
Conway had been the anchor of CSK’s chase, stitching together a solid 61-run stand with Rachin Ravindra (36 runs off 23 balls) to keep the yellow brigade in the hunt. But as the asking rate climbed and PBKS tightened their grip, the Kiwi batter’s timing began to falter.
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Post-match, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad spilled the beans on the bold call that got everyone talking. As Conway struggled to score boundaries, Ruturaj asserted that it was necessary for them to replace him with Ravindra Jadeja, who is the designated finisher at CSK.
"Well, you know, he's more of a timer of the ball, very useful up the order, but definitely, when you have Jaddu (Jadeja), his role is completely different, and he's known for that role particularly. So you expect that change to happen at some point when you know the batsman is struggling. Initially, he was still striking the ball. We waited and waited until we thought it was necessary, and then we thought, yes, why not change it?" Ruturaj said as quoted in the post-match interview.
The decision, however, did not yield the fireworks CSK hoped for. Jadeja managed just nine runs off five deliveries, and despite a late flurry from MS Dhoni (27 runs off 12 balls), including three towering sixes, the chase fizzled out at 201 runs from 5 wickets, as CSK lost by 18 runs.
This is not the first time IPL 2025 has seen a batter get retired out. Mumbai Indians (MI) pulled a similar move with Tilak Varma earlier in the season when they faced Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Also read: IPL 2025 - RJ Mahvash Cheers for PBKS vs CSK, Sparks Dating Rumours With Yuzvendra Chahal
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Ruturaj Gaikwad Laments CSK’s Fielding Woes in IPL 2025
Gaikwad did not shy away from the bigger picture, pointing to CSK’s sloppy fielding as the real culprit. Rachin dropped Shashank Singh’s catch, who then finished unbeaten at 52 runs off 36 balls. Priyansh was also given many chances by the CSK fielders.
"We are dropping a catch; the same batsman is just adding 15, 20, 25, sometimes 30 runs extra as well. It's just making that difference. If you just leave out the RCB game, I think the last three changes it was just a matter of one or maybe two or three hits. Yes, you can have a bad day, but you know, in fielding, there is something which we are really trying to work it on, but right now, it's not happening," he added.
For now, Gaikwad’s men sit ninth on the IPL 2025 points table with just two points from five games. They will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) next at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on April 11.
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