CSK Drops Ashwin, Conway for Crucial Clash Against Lucknow

Lucknow, India — In a surprising turn of events, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made significant changes to their lineup ahead of their match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 14, 2025. Notably, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and batsman Devon Conway were dropped from the playing XI as the team looks to break a five-match losing streak.

Captain MS Dhoni disclosed the strategic changes during the toss, announcing that Jamie Overton and Shaik Rasheed would replace Ashwin and Conway, respectively. The decision comes after Ashwin’s underwhelming performance this season, where he has taken only five wickets across six matches and holds an economy rate of 9.90 runs per over.

“We want to bowl first; there are chances of dew here,” Dhoni said at the toss. “The wicket gets better in the second innings and it’s important to have the right mindset and play with intent.” Interestingly, Ashwin was not named among the impact substitutes, signaling a clear pivot towards a pace-focused strategy on the pitch expected to favor seam movement under lights.

Conway’s performance was also scrutinized, having amassed 94 runs in three matches, averaging 31.33 with a strike rate of 127.02. His inconsistency, highlighted during a recent innings where he scored 69 from 49 balls, has led CSK to rethink its batting order.

In terms of the opposition, Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant also confirmed a lineup change, bringing back in-form all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for Himmat Singh. Pant noted, “We would have bowled first too. In Lucknow, it’s slower early on and gets better. Against CSK, we just don’t want to give them an opening.”

This match marks a crucial moment for CSK, as they aim to recalibrate their strategy and improve their standings in the ongoing IPL season. The lineup adjustments indicate a bold approach from one of the tournament’s historically successful teams, reflecting the urgent need for change amidst their current struggles.

Chennai Super Kings’ revised playing XI includes: Shaik Rasheed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni (captain), Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, and Matheesha Pathirana.

Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, lined up with Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (captain), David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, and Digvesh Singh Rathi.

The match holds significant implications for both teams as they strive to secure victory in this pivotal IPL clash.