That’s the way - Conway

The moment Faf du Plessis’ price shot up beyond Chennai Super Kings’ budget during IPL mega auction 2022, sudden gloominess engulfed the CSK fans on social media. For the kind of season that the South African had in 2021, it was beyond the comprehension of many how would CSK do something worthwhile to retain that edge after his departure. 

As contrasting as it may sound to cricket fans, however, it is the nature of the competition that often makes everything a slow-burning exercise. Slowly a new legacy takes over. People get acquainted with the new culture and fans lapped onto their new stars the same way they had for their legacy-makers. It is the continuity that defines the sport, more so in a time of smaller attention span. 

Cricket fans in Chennai would never forget Faf. But in the form of Devon Conway, they have now found someone who could be as impactful as the former South African captain was and possibly serve the franchise for the next decade with elan. And all of that, with a sense of originality that has been a hallmark of his career since he took giant strides in international cricket in late 2020.

For the way his career arc has developed in all these years, it was never surprising that Conway is having the kind of success he is enjoying now. A struggling eight-ball three to kick start his IPL sojourn, Conway has turned the tide to pile on 228 runs in his next three matches at an average of 114. He is known for marrying impeccable consistency with sheer artistry after all. But what is staggering is the nonchalance with which he is pushing the envelope - 85*, 56, and 87 tell a story of that bravado.

It was a good wicket to bat on against Delhi Capitals. There were no demons on the surface that could hold CSK’s opening duo back - and all they needed was a calculative approach. But sometimes, things that seem easy come with a lot of hurdles. Especially with Delhi Capitals having a varied attack like they had last night. 

He pulled on the sweep, made agricultural shots look pleasing to the eye, while ensuring Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel not managing the kind of stronghold they have had in the previous games. One particular trait that impressed all and sundry was the effortlessness with which Conway took on Kuldeep Yadav's length ball to smash it over wide long-on for a six. He followed that up with another on the very next ball to make sure the left-arm wrist-spinner erring the length for the remaining quota of overs.

"I have got to give credit to MS tonight," Conway told Star Sports. "In the last game I swept quite a lot, and I unfortunately got out playing the sweep. And he said to me, 'I think the guys are going to try to bowl fuller to you tonight. So maybe come out and try to hit them straight.' So he sort of gave me the guidelines to try to execute that. That's what I tried to do."

In a year when not a lot of things have gone in favor of Chennai Super Kings, a sense of liberation and detachment always helps. As MS Dhoni said last night “ If we make the playoffs, great. But even if we don't it's not the end of the world” and in that quote lies the ultimate success mantra of the ultimate team in the IPL. Conway blends into that culture smoothly, playing percentage cricket yet dominating the real battle with elan. All these while being seemingly detached from the outcome.

A few years ago, during an IPL event in Mumbai, Shahrukh Khan had a fun session with MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh - the ultimate stars of the IPL generation. Dhoni funnily gave it back to a man whose wittiness knows no bounds - after delivering a dialogue from “Don”, Dhoni moved slowly to revel in the magic of “That's the way Mahi Way (Mahive)” - an impeccable rendition by the ensemble cast of Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Madhushree, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, and Sadhana Sargam. It brought about a huge laughter among the audience but then that was Mahi, a man whose understanding of his own surrounding is second to none.

Some ten years later, as Devon would have returned to the pavilion after setting up the innings on his own, it is not really difficult to imagine if Dhoni would sing the slight derivation of the same song once again - “That’s the way. Conway.”