Unquestionably, the CSK players and opener, Devon Conway, were ecstatic as they celebrated, chanted, and congratulated their colleagues and loved ones. In a rain-interrupted match in Ahmedabad against Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings won their fifth IPL championship by chasing down 171 runs. Ravindra Jadeja, the star all-rounder for CSK, hit a six and a four off the final two deliveries of the chase to secure a thrilling five-wicket win.
Notably,Devon Conway received the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his 47 runs off 25 balls, which paved the way for the visitors’ run pursuit. In the same vein, Conway referred to the IPL 2023 victory as the ‘biggest success’ of his career, and he shared his experience with the MS Dhoni-led side. The 31-year-old also stated that the team’s management’s confidence in him throughout the season has helped him perform at his best. Consequently, he will be better prepared for the upcoming ODI World Cup, which will be contested in India later this year.
“Personally, this is my greatest career victory. In an IPL final, there is nothing greater than this. Left-handed batter Mike Hussey deserves much of the credit. It is a pleasure to be in his footsteps. This was a wonderful experience. I was fortunate enough to play in a few IPL matches at the end of last season, so I received a taste of what it is like, the pressure, and what the team expects from me. Also, having that support from the first game of this season has allowed me to perform at my best and find my rhythm throughout the competition,” Devon Conway said during the post-match presentation.
I believe this is the greatest T20 victory of my career. Devon Conway
Devon Conway’s opinions, however, appear to be upsetting to the New Zealand cricket team’s supporters, who have criticized him for ranking the IPL higher than the ICC World Test Championship final victory in 2021. Notably, New Zealand defeated India to win the championship. Conway has now responded to the call, stating that the victory was the ‘best T20 win’ of his tenure, but not the best overall.
“I believe this is my greatest T20 victory, but I wouldn’t say it’s my best victory overall. The greatest T20 victory or accomplishment of my career. Also, winning the Test Championship final for New Zealand was very special,” Convey told RNZ.
It is noteworthy that Devon Conway became the second-highest scorer for Chennai Super Kings in a single Indian Premier League season. Conway concluded the 2023 IPL with 672 runs in 16 games. The Kiwi batsman surpassed Ruturaj Gaikwad’s record of 635 runs in 16 matches to become CSK’s second-highest scorer in a single IPL season. Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey scored 733 runs in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League.