The Chennai Super Kings' choice to retire Devon Conway in the 18th over during their chase against the Punjab Kings has sparked mixed reactions among experts. The match, held in Chandigarh on Tuesday, ended with Chennai falling short by 18 runs, marking their fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2025. Analysts Piyush Chawla and Wasim Jaffer suggested that the timing of the decision was flawed, while former Australian captain Michael Clarke questioned its rationale.

Conway achieved one of the season's slowest fifties, reaching the milestone in 37 balls, struggling during both the powerplay (22 runs off 16 balls) and the middle overs (38 runs off 27 balls). As the required run rate increased and pressure mounted, Chennai opted to retire Conway after the fifth ball of the 18th over, substituting him with Ravindra Jadeja.

In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Chawla and Jaffer concurred that the issue was not the decision itself but rather its timing. Chawla criticized Conway's cautious approach during the chase, noting his hesitance to take risks while Shivam Dube displayed aggression in the middle overs.

"He is a technically proficient batter who tends to avoid aerial shots. This was evident in the middle overs when he played a pull shot with a technical mindset. I believe Chennai missed an opportunity; while Shivam was attempting big shots, Conway refrained from doing so. It seemed he aimed to prolong his innings, but one must also consider the run rate," he remarked.

"If they intended to make that change, it should have occurred two or three overs earlier. If they felt he wasn't hitting big shots, they needed someone to come in, face a couple of balls, and then accelerate. By the time they made the decision, it felt too late."

Jaffer echoed Chawla's sentiments and raised concerns about whether Jadeja was the appropriate replacement for the situation. 

"They could have executed that strategy earlier, but Jadeja was the only option available."

Clarke baffled at CSK's decision

Clarke, Nonetheless, he felt that Chennai should have exercised greater patience. He was of the opinion that the established opener could have scored sixes during the closing stages of the match to lead the team to victory.

"I found that decision perplexing; you retire a player who was on 69 and had invested considerable time at the crease. While I understand the need for sixes, it's not as if Conway is incapable of hitting them. Such decisions as a captain are always scrutinized based on the outcome, whether you win or lose," he remarked on Star Sports.

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