- May 24, 2025
With another IPL season done and dusted, CSK (Chennai Super Kings) fans will be feeling a bundle of emotions somewhere between pride and disappointment. No playoffs this year. Ouch. CSK has always found a way to bounce back strongly, but it seems that something needs to be tweaked. And as the auction gets closer, the question we’re all wondering in fan forums, WhatsApp groups, and cricket cafes is—who’s the big-name CSK will release? Spoiler alert: it could be one of their top-order stars. So, here’s our breakdown.
The Conway Conundrum: When Patience Runs Out
Devon Conway. The title alone once radiated calm certainty at the top of the order. But IPL 2025? Not so much. CSK gave him a long leash, even backing him well into the season, hoping for a spark. But the bright light did not emerge. Conway had lost his rhythm, and for a franchise like CSK, where every player has to deliver when needed the most, it was a massive warning sign.
Despite Conway’s international pedigree, the T20 leagues are reliant on form versus reputation. Similarly, Conway hurt the CSK in vital games with his strike rate and inability to play the spin-heavy middle-overs of T20s. CSK enjoyed the early-season exploits of a young Ayush Mhatre and are now building some sort of partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad and possibly developing to have a next-generation opening combo.
The Ashwin Angle: Big Name, Small Impact?
Then there is the Ashwin situation. CSK took a chance on the veteran spinner, hoping they would complete a spin trio with Jadeja and Theekshana that would strike fear into the hearts of batsmen. Sadly, it didn’t quite choke the opposition on the field as planned, and at times, the spin department looked completely toothless. Ashwin also hadn’t lived up to what you would expect from the popular spinner.
Complicating things further, both Ashwin and Jadeja happen to be stars. So, if CSK do want to go big in the next auction – say, set their sights on a power hitter to finish off games or a gamechanger-type overseas allrounder – then they’ll have to create some space both monetary and physical. If CSK are having to make a decision on the two, Jadeja has still got the bat-and-fieldwork element in play, which could swing the balance away from Ashwin.
The Real Issue: CSK’s Identity Crisis at the Finish Line
CSK’s batting problems weren’t isolated to one to two underperformers, it was more about getting the balance right. More than once, the innings collapsed post the top 4. At times, Jadeja walked out at 6 and Dhoni at 7 without any finishers around them. Dube, while explosive, was never consistent. CSK simply couldn’t close out games.
That’s why the talk about releasing someone like Conway or Ashwin is not only based on their individual performance, but based on giving room to have a strong finisher. Someone who can bat at number 6 and 7, bowl a bit if needed, and be a match-winner out of nothing. Like David Wiese, Tim David, or someone like Romario Shepherd. CSK does not just need players, they need impact.
With Ayush Mhatre’s rise and Conway’s regression, coupled with no firepower from the lower order, there could be some shakeup to the core sustaining CSK outside of IPL 2025. It seems that Conway and Ashwin could be left out—and not due to a lack of potential, but because CSK may need to be a reinvention more than a sentiment.
History has shown, however, that CSK can bounce back smarter and stronger. But the real question is, do they have the fortitude to release big names to make way for new beginnings?
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