Chennai Super Kings, an Indian Premier League franchise (CSK), has been dealt a major blow after Kiwi opener Devon Conway was ruled out of action for eight weeks because of a thumb injury.

Conway’s injury will hurt CSK, who will be the IPL champions in 2024. New Zealander Conway was CSK’s most prolific run scorer last season, scoring 672 runs across 16 matches. He also scored six fifties and had a strike rate of 139.70.

New Zealand Cricket shared Conway’s latest injury update on Monday (March 4) ahead of the second test in the ongoing two-match series against Australia.

Conway suffered a thumb fracture during the T20I match against Australia, which was played before the Test Series.

The Black Caps posted an update about Conway’s injury on their social media account X. “Opener Devon Conway is scheduled to undergo surgery this week on his left thumb, which he injured during the KFC T20I Series against Australia.

Conway was operated on following several scans and expert advice. The recovery time is expected to be at least 8 weeks”.

IPL 2024 begins on March 22 and will continue until the end of May. Conway will need at least eight weeks of recovery, so he is likely to miss a large chunk of CSK’s season.

CSK will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the MAMA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, to kick off IPL 2024.

As the Indian general election is expected to occur around the same date, the current schedule is for the first 17 matches.

After the Election Commission of India announces general election dates, the dates for the IPL’s next phase will be announced.

Conway’s participation at the T20 World Cup in June, right after IPL, is also dependent on fitness.

When Does IPL 2024 Start?

The Indian Premier League 17th edition is set to begin on March 22. The BCCI only released the schedules for the first 21 games, but the tournament will continue until the end of May.

When will Chennai Super Kings Play Their First Match In IPL 2024?

CSK will play in the opening match of IPL 2024, where they will take on their southern rivals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.

How Did Devon Conway Do In The IPL 2023 Season?

Devon Conway had a stellar season in the IPL, scoring 672 runs across 16 matches. CSK’s top run-getter, he won the Player of the Match award for the final against Gujarat Titans after scoring 47 runs off 25 balls.