Blackcaps batter Devon Conway was as surprised as anyone about his call up to the Indian Premier League (IPL), after being bought by reigning champions Chennai Super Kings at Sunday's player auction.
Conway, 30, was one of 12 Blackcaps to secure a contract for the 2022 season, as 11 New Zealanders were sold at the auction to join Kane Williamson - who was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad after 2021.
Sold for just one crore (just over NZ $200,000), Conway was by far and away one of the bargains of the auction, signed by former Blackcaps captain Stephen Fleming, Chennai Super Kings' coach.
Star bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult were the big winners among the Kiwi contingent, netting $2 million and $1.6 million respectively.
But after watching some of his international teammates fail to earn a contract of their own - with the likes of T20 stars Martin Guptill and Ish Sodhi both going unsold along with 13 other Kiwis - Conway himself admits his surprise at earning one of just eight overseas spots on Chennai's roster.
"I did watch it the other night, I stayed up quite late - for me it was quite late," he says.
"It was very exciting, I didn't expect to get picked up, so it's a nice little opportunity, and I'm looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for me.
"It was a little bit unexpected, but for me personally it's always been a dream from quite a young age to be involved in the IPL, to play in a very prestigious franchise and the league for that matter.
"[I'm] very excited about it, and just can't wait to get involved."
Conway wasn't the only Kiwi to tempt Fleming and Chennai either, and will be joined by Mitchell Santner and Adam Milne in the Super Kings' ranks in 2022.
And after forking out six figures to sign Conway, Fleming didn't wait to get in touch with his newest addition.
"He gave me a call the next morning to say welcome to the family, and we're very excited to have you around," Conway adds.
"It was a great phone call, and it's always nice to catch up with Stephen Fleming."
Aside from just playing in another overseas T20 league, Conway's Chennai stint will see him rub shoulders with some of cricket's genuine all-time greats.
Former India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni will be Conway's captain at Chennai, while he'll also share the dressing room with the likes of India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, England's Moeen Ali, and West Indian Dwayne Bravo.
And as a student of the game, Conway can't wait to pick the brains of his new teammates.
"Certainly some of the players that are in and around the Chennai Super Kings environment, there's a lot of knowledge and experience.
"For me, it'll be a great opportunity to learn more about the game and try and take bits and bobs out of some of the experienced players.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity."
