Chennai Super Kings secured their fifth IPL title in a rain-curtailed thriller against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The star all-rounder of CSK, Ravindra Jadeja, played a pivotal role in the chase, smashing a six and a four off the final two balls to seal a thrilling five-wicket victory. The CSK players, along with opener Devon Conway, jubilantly celebrated the moment, showering their teammates and loved ones with chants and congratulations.
Devon Conway, who played a crucial knock of 47 off 25 balls, was rightfully awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for setting up the run chase for the team. Reflecting on the IPL 2023 triumph, Conway regarded it as the “biggest win” of his career and shared his experience playing alongside the MS Dhoni-led side.
The 31-year-old batsman credited fellow left-hander Mike Hussey for his guidance and described the experience as a great one. Devon Conway expressed gratitude for the support he received from the team management throughout the tournament, which enabled him to perform at his best. He believes that this experience will prove valuable as he prepares for the upcoming ODI World Cup scheduled later this year in India.
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“In my personal opinion, this is the biggest win of my career. An IPL final is as big as it gets. I owe a lot to Mike Hussey, it’s great to be in his shoes. It was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to play a few matches towards the end of the IPL last year, so I had a taste of the pressure and the team’s expectations,” said Devon Conway during the post-match presentation.
What a memory! Thank you @ChennaiIPL 💛🏆 #Yellove #WhistlePodu #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/McHngGLi4r
— Devon Conway (@D_Conway88) May 30, 2023
However, Conway’s remarks comparing the IPL victory to the ICC World Test Championship final win in 2021 received criticism from some New Zealand cricket fans. The Kiwis had triumphed over India in the Test Championship final. Responding to the backlash, Conway clarified that while the IPL win was the “best T20 win” of his career, the Test Championship triumph remained a cherished and special moment.
“I consider it the best T20 win of my career, but I wouldn’t say it’s my best overall win. Winning the Test Championship final for New Zealand was definitely a very special achievement,” Devon Conway clarified in an interview with RNZ.
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Notably, Devon Conway concluded the IPL 2023 as Chennai Super Kings’ second-highest scorer in a single season, amassing 672 runs in 16 matches. His remarkable feat surpassed Ruturaj Gaikwad’s previous record of 635 runs in 16 matches during the 2021 season, making Conway the second-highest scorer in a single IPL season for CSK. The top spot in CSK’s history belongs to former Australian batsman Michael Hussey, who tallied 733 runs in the 2013 edition of the IPL.
