From unsold to unstoppable: The epic redemption of Devon Conway

Shreyasi

Devon Conway [Source: X/@CricCrazyJohns, X/@D_Conway88]Devon Conway [Source: X/@CricCrazyJohns, X/@D_Conway88]

In the high stakes of professional cricket, nowadays, a player’s worth is often reduced to a bid. There is no silence louder than the one that follows an unsold bid. It questions the skill of a player and ignores years of relentless hard work.

These are the times when a player rises through the challenges and prepares for historic roars. The New Zealand batter Devon Conway is one such example.

The sound of silence: UNSOLD

Last week has been bittersweet for the New Zealand batter. Known for his prowess as a left-handed batter, Conway has cemented his place as a regular member of the New Zealand squad across all three formats. During the Indian Premier League, his talent was also on display when he made his mark for Chennai Super Kings.

Despite being released by the franchise ahead of the auction this year, it was his earlier performances that made everyone optimistic about his IPL career. Conway himself must have been confident of being acquired by one of the remaining IPL franchises in the auction.

Conway debuted for CSK in IPL 2022, earning trust despite limited chances. In 2023, he scored 672 runs with six fifties and was named Player of the Match in the rain-shortened final, helping CSK secure their fifth title. Expected to be a long-term mainstay, Conway broke his thumb before the 2024 season and missed IPL while recovering. He returned in 2025 but managed only 156 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 131.

CSK finished last in the 2025 IPL and made major changes, including releasing Devon Conway. Despite his Rs. 2 Crore base price and versatility as a wicketkeeper-batter, teams like KKR, who needed refurbishment, chose other players with similar skills, leaving Conway unsold.

Conway’s T20 strike rate may be a key factor in franchise decisions. In the past two years, openers such as Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Phil Salt, and Sunil Narine have all maintained a strike rate above 160, while Conway’s strike rate below 130 seems unimpressive.

Beyond the hammer: The historic roar

While it was shocking and baffling to many, the man in question decided to focus on his national duty. Undeterred by the disappointing outcome of the IPL auction, he did not let the setback impact his game. Instead, Conway delivered a power-packed performance against the West Indies in the Third Test.

Devon Conway against West Indies [Source: X/@D_Conway88]Devon Conway against West Indies [Source: X/@D_Conway88]

At the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, once New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and decided to bat, the onus was on him and Conway to give their team a good start.

And that’s exactly what they did for the next six hours. The openers batted together for 86.4 overs to add 323 runs for the first wicket partnership. Conway was more aggressive among the two, and despite losing Latham later on day one, he kept playing his shot to reach his second Test double hundred on day two. He ended with his highest Test score of 227, which featured 31 boundaries.

His double hundred helped New Zealand reach 575/8 before declaring. Once the West Indies were all out for 420 in their first innings, it was again the responsibility of Conway and Latham to provide them with quick runs. Once again, Conway was the aggressive one, reaching his hundred before the Tea.

Although Conway was dismissed just after the Tea, with this hundred, he became part of multiple records. His tally of 327 runs in this Test match made him the third-highest run scorer for New Zealand in a Test match, just behind legends like Stephen Fleming and Martin Crowe.

 He also became part of an exclusive list of players scoring a double century and a century in the same Test match- only the 10th man in the list, including greats like Sunil Gavaskar, Greg Chappell, Graham Gooch, and Brian Lara. 

In the history of New Zealand cricket, Conway became the first player to do so and the second player to achieve the feat in this calendar year after Shubman Gill, who put England through similar pain earlier in 2025.

 He also broke a host of partnership records along with Latham, most notably the highest runs scored in a combined two innings opening partnership in a Test match.

Building a legacy: Two nations, one dream

What Conway achieved in the last four days has been a testament to his outstanding international calibre and unwavering mental strength. Despite facing setbacks in the IPL auction, a public dismissal that suggested, at 34, he had lost his elite spark, Conway demonstrated his ability to remain focused and committed to the game.

His twin centuries in the Test against the West Indies showcased not only his technical prowess but also his determination to excel under pressure. However, this was not the first time.

Conway, known as a domestic bully in South Africa, chose to bid adieu to his homeland to play international cricket. He kept waiting for a chance but was not extraordinary enough to be part of the Proteas squad. He was fading with time when he made a choice. He sold his house, car, and moved to New Zealand with his partner and a cricket bag.

Conway’s approach reflects the philosophy that opportunities may arise from unexpected directions. Conway continued to prove that one just has to seize every chance and often risk everything to be the best version of oneself.