Aakash Chopra criticizes Devon Conway’s knock in CSK’s IPL 2025 loss to PBKS

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Devon Conway for his knock after Chennai Super Kings suffered an 18-run loss against Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Conway, playing his second match of the tournament, scored 69 runs off 49 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. Chopra reckons CSK could have made a match out of it if they had decided to retire out of the New Zealander batter earlier.

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad revealed that Conway was not able to time the ball and they decided to retire him. Meanwhile, Conway and Rachin Ravindra added 59 runs in the Powerplay overs but the latter was dismissed when the fielding restrictions were lifted.

“Chennai became the first team to lose a match despite not losing a wicket in the powerplay. This hadn’t happened this year, but this is what they have done. However, when a wicket fell, the second fell after the first. Rachin (Ravindra) got out first, and then Rutu (Ruturaj Gaikwad) got out,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Then, there was a question about Devon Conway. He was retired out in the end. If you are chasing 11 runs per over from the first over, you can’t play at a strike rate of 150. They might have made a match of it had they retired him out earlier,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shivam Dube scored a crucial knock of 42 runs off 27 whereas former CSK captain MS Dhoni played a cameo of 12-ball 27.

“Dhoni came and hit sixes as well, but he came too late. It wasn’t his fault this time. He would only come when a wicket would fall. However, the match had gone too far by then. So don’t blame Dhoni, blame the others for the way they are batting,” Chopra observed.

On the other hand, the reputed commentator noted that the CSK spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad didn’t complete their quota of four overs.

“It was one more match where they played three spinners with big names, on whom they invested ₹30 crore as well, but Jadeja, Ashwin and Noor didn’t bowl 12 overs. This was a big ground, but they aren’t bowling. They were bowling first, so there was no issue of dew as well. Wickets had fallen, but they still didn’t bowl,” he said in the same video.

Chennai Super Kings will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday.