After suffering back-to-back defeats in the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals will hope to bounce back in their upcoming match against the mighty Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Thursday. Four-time champions Chennai climbed to the top spot on the IPL 2023 points table following their impressive win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their previous outing.
MS Dhoni's Yellow Brigade will meet former champions Rajasthan Royals in match No.37 of the IPL 2023 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. CSK's formidable top order featuring the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube have propelled Dhoni's men to comfortable wins in their last three fixtures. CSK opener Conway is the third-highest run-getter in the IPL 2023 while Indian batter Gaikwad is placed seventh in the Orange Cap standings.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming match between CSK and RR, legendary Australian opener Matthew Hayden admitted that he was concerned about Conway's batting style during the initial stages of the cash-rich league. "Initially I was worried about Devon Conway as he was taking some time in the powerplay while Ruturaj Gaikwad was playing the aggressor. But in the last few games, Conway has shifted the gears. At the start of the season, the opening partnership for CSK was going hot and cold but now there is consistency. Good to see that Conway, being a senior player, taking the leadership role," Hayden told Star Sports.
{{/usCountry}}Speaking ahead of the upcoming match between CSK and RR, legendary Australian opener Matthew Hayden admitted that he was concerned about Conway's batting style during the initial stages of the cash-rich league. "Initially I was worried about Devon Conway as he was taking some time in the powerplay while Ruturaj Gaikwad was playing the aggressor. But in the last few games, Conway has shifted the gears. At the start of the season, the opening partnership for CSK was going hot and cold but now there is consistency. Good to see that Conway, being a senior player, taking the leadership role," Hayden told Star Sports.
{{/usCountry}}Conway was roped in by Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings for INR 1 crore at the IPL auction last year. The CSK opener has smashed 314 runs in 7 matches of the IPL this season. The New Zealand opener has struck four half-centuries in the IPL 2023. Conway notched up his fourth IPL 2023 half-century during Chennai's match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Half-centuries from Conway, Shivam Dube and Ajinkya Rahane propelled Dhoni's CSK to a record total of 235-4 in 20 overs. In reply, KKR mustered 186-8 as the two-time champions lost the match by 49 runs.