Vadodra witnessed a unique blend of international competition and franchise loyalty. India vs New Zealand opened on 11 January 2026 at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Kotambi.. While the contest is a high-stakes series opener, a heartwarming moment surrounds the Kiwi opener Devon Conway came into the limelight by proving that some bonds transcend national borders.
Devon Conway reacts to the roar of ‘CSK, CSK’ chants at the BCA Stadium
The atmosphere at the BCA Stadium reached fever pitch in the first innings, but it wasn’t just for the home team. As Conway took position near the boundary ropes, the Vadodara crowd erupted into deafening chants. “CSK, CSK!” A New Zealand veteran, a cornerstone Chennai Super Kings From 2022 to 2025, he took a momentary break to confess his love. Despite being released ahead of time 2026 IPL mega auction and Conway’s legacy with the Yellow Army, who recently went unsold in the preliminary rounds, remains clearly intact.
Conway responded with a warm thumbs up to her passionate fans, a gesture that quickly went viral on social media. During his tenure at CSK, Conway was more than an overseas player; he was a great playmaker, most notably winning the Player of the Match award in the 2023 IPL Final. His IPL stats of 1,080 runs in 29 matches at an average of 43.20 explains why Indian fans still look at him through the lens of Chennai’s golden era. On the field, Conway showed no sign of distraction, leading the Kiwi innings with 56 off 67 balls, eventually cleaning him up with a crisp delivery. Harshit Rana.
We present the video:
CONWAY💛CSK
Scene from today’s match at BCA Stadium, Vadodara@FarziCricketer @internetumpire @CricSuperFan @CricCrazyJohns @mufaddal_vohra @CSKFansOfficial https://t.co/hmKKnZsDCQ pic.twitter.com/nPlB0ELfZb— Suresh Reddy (@sureshsr772) January 11, 2026
Also READ: IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli reveals where he keeps his Player of the Match awards
India overcame late drama to claim a thrilling win against New Zealand in their opening game
The match lived up to the hype of the 300-plus thriller on the scoreboard. New Zealand posted a competitive total of 300/8 thanks to a superb opening stand of 117 runs between Conway and Conway. Henry Nicholls (62), followed by a late innings attack Daryl Mitchell (84). And India’s chase was a masterclass in calculated aggression, once again led by the legendary man. Virat Kohli.
Kohli has reached the milestone 28,000 international runs during this knock, he made for his 51st ODI century before becoming sublime 91 balls from 93. Next to the captain Shubman Gill (56) and Shreyas Iyer (49), Kohli put India in a position of absolute dominance at 234/2. But the game took a dramatic turn Kyle Jamieson (4/41) It caused a middle-order collapse that rocked India and left the Vadodara crowd in stunned silence.
The tension was finally quelled by his calm presence KL RahulHe was undefeated on the 29th. Rahul’s composure under pressure is supported by the spirited cameo of the team. Harshit Rana (29 out of 23)India crossed the line with four wickets in hand and six balls to spare. With the win, India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, marching into Rajkot and a reminder of the deep-seated IPL ties that continue to define modern cricket.
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