Chennai Super Kings suffered a massive blow to their title hopes just three weeks ahead of the IPL 2024 as their star player Devon Conway has been ruled out of the tournament until May. Devon Conway’s replacement has not yet been announced by Chennai Super Kings. The New Zealand cricketer picked up an injury to his thumb in the second T20I against Australia just a week ago. After sustaining a blow to his thumb, he left the field for an X-ray and the reports confirmed that there had been no fracture.
However, upon medical consultation, Conway underwent surgery, meaning that it will take him at least eight weeks to recover and that he is certain to miss more than the first half of the IPL. It won’t be that easy for any player to make an entry straightaway into the playing XI after being out of action for a long time. However, CSK’s think-tank will be a bit busy searching for Devon Conway’s replacement.
Conway was one of the best performers for CSK in the last season. He amassed 672 runs in 16 appearances wherein he hit as many as six fifties to his name. He continued his good form even in the IPL 2023 final where he scored a match-defining 47 off 25 against Gujarat Titans. Here are the three players CSK may rope in as Devon Conway’s replacement.
1. Philip Salt
England international Philip Salt is one of the big names CSK should look at as Devon Conway’s replacement. The in-form England opener failed to attract the bidders in the auction in late December. He set his base price at INR 1.5 crore but went unsold in the auction. Just hours after going unsold, he made the headlines by smashing a quickfire 119 off 57 deliveries against West Indies in the 4th T20I.
2. Josh Inglis
Australian international Josh Inglis set his base price at INR 2 crore at the IPL 2024 auction. Unfortunately, none of the 10 franchises showed any interest in recruiting his services. The 29-year-old English-born Australian cricketer who doesn’t have IPL experience in his resume has played 21 T20Is for Australia, scoring 470 runs including 1 century at a healthy strike rate of 152.1.
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3. Ryan Rickelton
Ryan Rickelton burst onto the scene with his spellbound performances in the SA20 2024 tournament. Playing for MI Cape Town, the South African cricketer finished the season as the top-scorer as he garnered 530 runs in 10 games at an average of 58.89 including 5 half-centuries. He is one of the names CSK can target as Devon Conway’s replacement for the upcoming season of the IPL, which will get underway from March 22.