Mount Maunganui, November 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
New Zealand batter Will Young turned two early reprieves into a match-defining opportunity, scoring a brilliant 125 against India in the fourth ODI at Bay Oval on Friday. The right-hander also shared a light-hearted exchange with Virat Kohli after surviving two dropped catches off consecutive deliveries.
Young was given two lives in the second over of the innings when Rohit Sharma at slip and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan failed to hold catches off Indian pacer Auqib Nabi on successive balls.
Recalling the incident during a mid-innings conversation with broadcasters, Young said Kohli approached him after the missed chances, prompting him to ask whether the former India captain had ever been dropped twice in the same over.
“I said, ‘Have you ever been dropped twice in an over?’ He laughed and said no, so just brush it off and next ball,” Young recalled.
The New Zealand batter admitted that the reprieves initially made him tentative at the crease. He subsequently decided to move forward and transfer his weight into his shots, a change that helped him settle and build a substantial innings.
Young’s 125 was his fifth ODI century and his first against India. His knock anchored New Zealand’s innings as they posted 333 in their allotted 50 overs.
He also credited his batting partners for helping build the total through a series of useful partnerships. Tim Seifert provided an aggressive start with 58 in an 85-run opening stand, while other contributions helped sustain the innings.
Young said Seifert’s positive approach at the other end had been particularly valuable and praised the team’s effort to keep building partnerships rather than relying on one prolonged stand.
New Zealand had reached a strong position at 256/4 but lost wickets towards the end, preventing them from pushing the total higher. Young acknowledged that the hosts had hoped for more but felt 333 was still a competitive score.
He also pointed to the importance of early wickets when India began their chase, expressing hope that the target would prove sufficient.
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