New Zealand batter Devon Conway acknowledged loud chants of “CSK, CSK” from the crowd at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara during the first ODI against India on Sunday, January 11. Conway had played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from 2022 to 2025 before being released ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.

Conway played a crucial role for CSK during his tenure with the team. He was part of the title-winning squad in the 2023 season and also won the Player of the Match award in the final. In 29 matches for CSK, he scored 1,080 runs at an average of 43.20 and a strike rate of 139.72.

The left-handed batter impressed in the series opener against India, scoring 56 runs off 67 balls in the first innings before being bowled by Harshit Rana. Later in the match, while fielding near the boundary, Conway heard the crowd chanting “CSK, CSK.” He responded with a thumbs-up to the fans before turning his focus back to the game.

Watch the video here:

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

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Conway’s recent form and IPL future

Ahead of the India tour, Devon Conway had faced CSK’s sister franchise, the Joburg Super Kings, twice during the 2026 SA20 season. Playing for the Durban Super Giants, he scored 4 and 19 in those matches as the Faf du Plessis-led side completed a double over his team.

See also -Virat Kohli becomes 3rd Batter in the world to score 28,000 international runs in IND vs NZ 1st ODI

Devon Conway goes unsold in IPL 2026 auction

The New Zealand opener entered the IPL 2026 mini auction with a base price of INR 2 crore but did not receive any bids and went unsold. He had a decent 2025 season, scoring 922 runs at an average of 31.79 and a strike rate of 126.99. However, franchises chose to invest in younger talents instead.

Despite this, New Zealand have named Conway in their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He is expected to continue his opening partnership with Finn Allen in the tournament.

The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) announced the results of its 2025 office-bearer elections on September 28, with Harsh Vardhan elected unopposed as president. At just 24 years old, he becomes the youngest chief of the BCA, bringing fresh energy to the leadership of the state’s top cricket body.

Priya Kumari has been named vice president, while Ziaul Arefin will serve as secretary. Abhishek Nandan has been appointed as treasurer, and Rohit Kumar will take charge as joint secretary. All other office bearers were also elected unopposed, with the results confirmed on Sunday, September 28. Rajesh Kumar was appointed as a Member of the Committee of Management (District Representative), and Gyaneshwar Gautam was elected as a Member of the Governing Council.

The elections were conducted under the supervision of retired IAS officer M Modassir, who acted as the Electoral Officer. The BCA expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and said its focus would be on strengthening grassroots cricket, improving infrastructure, and creating opportunities for young cricketers across Bihar.

BCA Plans Trials and Focus on Player Fitness

"We are humbled by the faith and support of all Bihar cricket stakeholders. Our priority is to strengthen grassroots cricket, develop strong infrastructure, and provide more opportunities for young and aspiring cricketers. Together, we are committed to taking Bihar cricket to new heights," said the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA).

See Also: 'Inspired by Virat Bhai'- Young India batter open up on fitness secret ahead of Asia Cup 2025 final

The association also confirmed that selection trials and the preparation camp for Men’s Senior and Under-23 teams will begin on Tuesday, September 30, at Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq Stadium. Players have been asked to report on September 29. Recently, the BCA organised a physiotherapy training session focused on player fitness and injury management, aiming to keep state players physically strong and help them recover quickly in case of injuries.

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has announced a new scheme for the benefit of Baroda state Ranji team players. This scheme will cover current players, retired players, and even those who are not part of the BCCI scheme.

Under the BCCI's current scheme, Ranji Trophy players who are currently playing for all states earn match fees based on their experience: ₹40,000 per day for those with 1 to 20 matches, ₹50,000 per day for 21 to 40 matches, and ₹60,000 per day for players with 41 or more matches. Retired Ranji players receive a pension of ₹30,000 per month.

Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja Shines, Rishabh Pant Struggles in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Match Against Delhi and Saurashtra

To provide more support to their state Ranji team, the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has announced a new scheme alongside the BCCI's initiatives. Under this scheme, players currently representing the Baroda Ranji team will receive ₹10,000 per day for Ranji Trophy matches in addition to the BCCI's match fees. Reserved players who are not part of the playing XI will receive ₹5,000 per day.

For retired Ranji players from the Baroda team, the scheme also offers benefits to those who are not eligible for the BCCI pension scheme. Currently, the BCCI provides a pension of ₹30,000 per month to retired players who have played 25 or more matches. However, retired players with fewer than 25 matches will now receive support from the BCA under this new scheme. Retired players who have played 11 to 24 matches will receive ₹15,000 per month, while retired players who have played 1 to 10 matches will receive ₹10,000 per month.

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Baroda Cricket Association's new scheme:

- 10,000 monthly for players with 1-10 Ranji games and 15,000 monthly for players with 11-24 matches.

A beautiful initiative by BCA. 👌❤️ pic.twitter.com/Dn7Yd1hjRx

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 25, 2025

Alslo Read: Kuldeep Yadav Sparks Controversy with RCB Fans After Viral Comment

Women cricketers from the Baroda state team have also been included in this scheme, ensuring broader support for all players associated with the BCA. This initiative is designed to honor the cricketing heroes of Baroda and to motivate and reward cricketers from Baroda while offering financial aid to struggling players.