IPL 2025: Why did Devon Conway retire out during Chennai Super Kings chase against PBKS? - Reason Explained

Punjab Kings (PBKS) hosted Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 22 of IPL 2025 at Mullanpur on Tuesday, April 8. The home team won the match by 18 runs but the game promised to become much closer at one stage than what the margin suggests.

An interesting incident occurred during CSK's chase of 220 runs. The Kiwi and CSK opener Devon Conway was playing a solid innings, anchoring one end and providing the necessary boost to the run rate when possible. The required run rate was way too high throughout the innings though and with the arrival of MS Dhoni it seemed like it might come down considerably if he gets going. He, in fact, got going and it appeared that he and Conway would be leading the team to the last ball unless they got out.

Conway was well-set at 69 off 49 balls which is when the CSK management decided to retire him out, at 17.5 overs, and bring in Ravindra Jadeja. The decision baffled many fans and viewers who expressed surprise on social media. Fans started speculating that the team probably wanted fresh legs and hands in the middle for the last two overs and so decided to bring Conway back into the dugout.

Jadeja, however, could not do much as he ended up at 9 off 5 balls. CSK had a lot on their plate and they lost their fourth match of the season out of five played. 

Also Read: Best Catch of the Match - Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings, Match 22

After the match, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad shed light on why Conway was retired out. 

"Devon is more of a timer of a ball. Very useful at the top of the order. Jaddu, his role is completely different, You know the batsman is struggling. We waited for him to time it and then changed when we thought it was necessary," said Gaikwad.

IPL 2025 has seen two players retired out so far. Tilak Varma was the first one, against Lucknow Super Giants. His retiring out evoked varied opinions and the same is expected of Conway's.