in the ongoing IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a satisfactory start by winning two out of their four matches played so far. The batting unit of the team has performed well in both home and away games, although a few players have not been consistent at the beginning of the new season.
One such player is Devon Conway, who has not been successful in two of his four innings in IPL 2023. He scored brilliant half-centuries against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals(RR) but got out early in the powerplay overs against the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Mumbai Indians (MI).
To benefit the team, Chennai Super Kings might consider using Conway in the middle order instead of the top order. There are three reasons to support this decision for the Men in Yellow.
Devon Conway’s Batting Technique and Approach Don’t Complement Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Style
Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad have similar playing styles as opening batsmen in T20 format. Both of them take their time to settle in and are proficient in playing spin bowling, but struggle against swing and seam in the initial overs.
Although their opening partnership has done reasonably well, especially on spin-friendly pitches, it may benefit Chennai Super Kings to separate them. They have a good rapport, but quality swing bowlers have troubled them in the previous two IPL seasons.
To optimize the team’s performance, pairing Gaikwad with an exceptional player of pace and seam bowling would be an ideal situation for the Super Kings.
Maximizing Ben Stokes’ Potential At The Top Order
Although Ben Stokes has some weaknesses in his T20 game, he is an outstanding power hitter, especially against pace bowling.
Stokes is skilled at facing fast bowlers in the powerplay and doesn’t require much time to settle in. He is less vulnerable to swing bowling than Conway and Gaikwad.
Chennai Super Kings invested a significant amount of money in Stokes during the IPL 2023 auction, and they would undoubtedly want him to perform at his best. To achieve this, the team should consider opening the batting with Stokes, as he is most comfortable in that position.
Conway’s Spin Game Could Benefit Chennai Super Kings in the Crucial Middle Overs
Chennai Super Kings have so far utilized Ben Stokes in the middle order, but it hasn’t yielded desired results. Stokes has struggled against spinners in the middle overs, and some of his middle-order colleagues face similar issues.
Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, and Ajinkya Rahane all have their weaknesses against spin bowling. While Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, and Shivam Dube are better spin hitters, they have also struggled against certain types of bowling.
In contrast, Devon Conway is confident against all styles of spin bowling. He has an impressive track record against off-spinners and is highly skilled at using his sweep and reverse-sweep shots effectively.