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IPL 2026 Trade Rumour Analysis: Conway To Gujarat Titans vs Sundar, Tewatia To CSK

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Sundar, Tewatia, Conway [Source: @IPL,@NasroSalik, @ApexWrites7/x.com]Sundar, Tewatia, Conway [Source: @IPL,@NasroSalik, @ApexWrites7/x.com]

CSK's rumoured trade of Devon Conway for Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia represents a strategic pivot from specialist batting to all-round depth, addressing their middle-order finishing and spin bowling deficiencies while the Titans gain a proven top-order anchor.

The Numbers Tell a Story of Decline

Devon Conway's IPL 2025 campaign paints a stark picture of a player struggling to recapture his form. Scoring just 156 runs at a strike rate of 131.09, Conway's output represents a dramatic 77% decline from his stellar 2023 performance of 672 runs at an average of 51.69 and a strike rate of 139.71.

The deeper metrics reveal concerning trends. Conway's boundary percentage dropped significantly, and his ability to accelerate in death overs, a crucial skill for CSK's batting approach, diminished markedly. His dot ball percentage increased, suggesting either poor shot selection or difficulty adapting to bowling strategies specifically designed to contain him.

Strike Rate Comparison:

  • IPL 2023: 139.71 (Championship season)
  • IPL 2025: 131.09
  • Decline: 6.16% drop in scoring rate

The All-Rounder Equation: Quality Over Quantity

The proposed swap fundamentally alters CSK's team composition philosophy. Instead of one specialist opener, they acquire two players who offer dual-skill flexibility - a premium commodity in modern T20 cricket.

Washington Sundar's Value Proposition:

  • Batting: Strike rate of 166.25 in IPL 2025 with an average of 26.60
  • Bowling: Off-spin option averaging 7.70 economy rate
  • Versatility: Can bat anywhere from 4-8, bowl in powerplay or death

Rahul Tewatia's X-Factor:

  • Clutch Performance: Famous for match-winning cameos
  • Strike Rate: 167.80 in limited opportunities in 2025
  • Bowling: Leg-spin provides crucial variation to CSK's attack

The mathematical advantage becomes clear when comparing the total contribution value. Conway provided approximately 15-20 match-impact points in 2025. Sundar and Tewatia combined could potentially deliver 25-30 match-impact points through their batting, bowling and statistical value.

CSK's Strategic Transformation

Middle-Order Finishing Crisis

CSK's 2025 collapse was largely attributed to poor death-overs batting. The team frequently failed to accelerate beyond 140-150 totals when chasing or setting targets. Conway's declining strike rate exacerbated this problem in the matches that he played.

Current CSK Lower Middle Order Issues:

  • Over-reliance on Jadeja for both batting and bowling
  • Lack of power-hitting options between overs 15-20
  • Limited flexibility in batting positions

Tewatia's acquisition directly addresses these concerns. His career record shows exceptional performance under pressure, with a propensity for match-winning contributions when the required run rate exceeds 12-15 per over.

Spin Bowling Depth Enhancement

CSK's spin department in 2025 heavily depended on Noor Ahmad and, occasionally, Ravindra Jadeja. Sundar's inclusion provides a right-arm off-spinner, strangely absent in the current CSK set up. 

  • Projected Spin Combination:
  • Jadeja: Left-arm orthodox (primary spinner)
  • Sundar: Off-spin (powerplay specialist)

This combination offers tactical flexibility, allowing CSK to deploy spin from both ends during the middle overs - a strategy that proved successful during their championship campaigns.

Gujarat Titans' Calculated Gamble

For GT, acquiring Conway represents a low-risk, high-reward scenario. His 2023 form demonstrates capability, and his struggles in 2025 could be attributed to CSK's overall team dysfunction rather than individual decline. 

GT's Opening Slot Strategy:

  • Looking to strengthen the top-order even further
  • Conway's technique suits GT's batting philosophy

The Financial Framework

The inclusion of cash in this deal suggests CSK recognises Conway's market value has decreased. However, acquiring two players instead of one provides squad depth flexibility, crucial for long tournament campaigns and injury management.

Conclusion: This trade represents modern IPL team building, prioritising multi-dimensional players over specialists. While Conway offers proven top-order stability, Sundar and Tewatia provide the tactical flexibility CSK desperately needs to rebuild their championship-winning formula. The data supports this strategic pivot, particularly given CSK's specific weaknesses in death-overs batting and spin bowling variety.