IPL 2026: Devon Conway confirms CSK departure with heartfelt post

New Zealand opener Devon Conway has officially confirmed his exit from Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 retentions, bringing an end to a three-year stint with the five-time champions. Conway shared a heartfelt post for CSK fans on social media, thanking them for their support. His exit comes as CSK looks to revamp its squad after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign.

CSK finished last in IPL 2025, leading the management to rethink their entire squad structure. With big changes already underway, including the historic trade involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran heading to the Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Sanju Samson, the release of Conway is another move in the process.

Despite being one of CSK’s most dependable batters in 2022 and 2023, his dip in form last season placed him on the release list. Conway confirmed his release with a short note,

"Thank you to all loyal fans of CSK for amazing 3 years support," he wrote on X.

Conway joined CSK in 2022 and scored 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 145.66. He followed it up with a sensational 2023 season, smashing 672 runs at an average of over 51 and finishing as the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament. His knock of 47 off 25 balls in the IPL 2023 final against the Gujarat Titans was crucial in CSK’s title win.

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CSK set for squad revamp

After missing the 2024 season, Conway was bought back for INR 6.25 crore in the mega auction last year. However, his 2025 campaign did not go as planned. He managed only 156 runs in six innings at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 131.09. CSK struggled collectively, finishing with the lowest powerplay strike rate (137.50) and scoring only 693 runs inside the first six overs across the season.

His departure, along with Rachin Ravindra, frees up over INR 10 crore for CSK ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The franchise is now looking toward young talent. Dewald Brevis is expected to take on a larger role, while Indian youngsters Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel are being groomed for significant opportunities. With Samson reportedly joining the squad, the top order is expected to look even stronger. CSK is also likely to release Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, and Jamie Overton as part of their restructuring plans.