New Zealand Aims to Equal Series Against Strong Indian Team, Says Will Young

Mount Maunganui, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : New Zealand batsman Will Young believes that leveling the series against a formidable Indian team in the fifth ODI at Bay Oval on Sunday would be a significant achievement for the hosts. However, he emphasized that the team will treat it like any other match.

New Zealand heads into the decisive game buoyed by a remarkable 244-run victory over India in the fourth ODI. Thanks to Young’s impressive 125 and Tim Seifert’s 58, New Zealand posted a total of 333 runs. The Indian batting lineup faltered, collapsing to just 89 runs after Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and captain Shreyas Iyer in the first over.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of the series finale, Young stated, “I think it definitely provides a bit of extra motivation, but at the same time, it’s just another game of cricket. We’ve played a lot of cricket this summer and there’s still more to come. That’s why we need to approach Sunday with the same mindset as any other match.”

He acknowledged that the team would look different, as several key players have already departed to prepare for the upcoming Test series. “You’re right; having the chance to equal the series is significant, and doing so against a strong Indian team would be very satisfying,” he added.

New Zealand will field a squad missing many of its main players, who have left to focus on the Test series starting November 19. Young stressed the importance of living in the moment. “We have another chance to play ODI cricket on Sunday. As I mentioned before, this is a different kind of balanced team, so some new players will step in, and it’s a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills. When it comes to our ODI record at home, honestly, we want to put that out of our minds. Tomorrow is another chance for this team to show its true identity—focusing on the present, adapting to the circumstances, and giving it our all.”

Looking ahead, Young mentioned that the focus would shift to red-ball cricket, which promises to be an exciting series. Both teams remain in contention for the World Test Championship, making the stakes high for both sides.

After suffering defeats in Auckland and Wellington, Friday’s result has given New Zealand a confidence boost ahead of the final match. Young remarked, “Absolutely, that’s right. After the match, we were told it was one of our finest victories, and for India, it was one of their biggest losses. However, you don’t go onto the field aiming for such things; it’s nice to reflect on them afterward.”

He added, “I believe our entire game in the ODI format hinges on how well we adapt to the conditions in front of us. Seifert and I did just that at the start of our innings. Of course, we had a bit of luck, but we set a strong foundation. We realized that the pitch here was a bit better compared to the first two ODIs in Auckland and Wellington, and we posted a score we considered competitive. At times, it felt like we could have scored even more, but in the end, 333 runs proved to be a good score. Our bowlers delivered an excellent performance, especially in the first 10 overs, which laid a solid foundation for the rest of the innings.”

Young’s century did not come easily. He survived two dropped catches in the second over, courtesy of Rohit and Ishan Kishan. He shared how he remained calm after the second drop. “Yes, absolutely. There’s a little story behind that. The first time the catch was dropped, I was quite disappointed with myself because I almost got out the same way in the second ODI. But when the second catch was dropped, I just laughed it off and focused on the next ball as if it were any regular delivery.”

He praised Seifert for his outstanding batting from the other end, which allowed Young to settle into his innings. “Definitely. We must remember that cricket is a team game. The good thing was that the ball looked huge for Seifert, and I just went along with the rhythm he created. After a while, I found my timing too, and we built some good partnerships, which was great.”

Seifert added, “I think the pitch was quite good for batting, but bowlers who consistently bowled at the same length were rewarded, and Matt Henry did just that. From the very first ball, he found the perfect length for this pitch. In the evening, the white ball behaved somewhat like a pink ball.”

“At that time, the wicket provided the ball with a bit of extra pace. This meant that when Matt Henry bowled at the right length and moved the ball just a little, it came off very quickly. Perhaps that’s why he took six wickets for just 27 runs. Everything happened very quickly, and his length was outstanding.”