Should CSK say goodbye to Devon Conway before the IPL 2026 auction?

The Chennai Super Kings have had a forgettable IPL 2025 season. The MS Dhoni-led side have won just 3 games this season heading into the CSK vs RR clash in Delhi. One of their major struggles has been the opening combination. While Ayush Mhatre has added a breath of fresh air, the future of Devon Conway at the franchise is up in the air.

Devon Conway’s struggles continue, will CSK release him ahead of IPL 2026?

Devon Conway has been part of the CSK set-up since 2022, replacing Faf du Plessis at the top of the order. The Kiwi left-hander was instrumental in CSK’s 2023 title win. He scored 672 runs at an average of 51.69. However, since then, Conway has failed to replicate the same returns. He did not feature last year, while has only featured in 5 games in IPL 2025.

After a failure in the CSK vs RR game, the veteran New Zealand opener has 104 runs in 5 innings. That tally includes a sedate 69 vs Punjab Kings. He strikes at 123.80 this season, far below the expect standards in the modern T20 game.

Chennai have Ruturaj Gaikwad coming back from injury next season. They have also unearthed the likes of Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel. The trio, alongside Rachin Ravindra, offers a strong core for CSK to build around. With the five-time champions opting to move on and adapt to the changing T20 landscape, Conway becomes an odd fit in their plans.

The MS Dhoni-led side splurged Rs 6.25 crore on getting the Kiwi ace back to Chennai in the IPL 2025 Auction. With CSK now having able replacements, the franchise could simply use those funds to fix the other gaping holes in the side. The five-time champions are making a consious effort to build a younger core. The additions of Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis alongside that of Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana outline CSK’s intentions to rejig their core.