Mount Maunganui, November 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
New Zealand batter Will Young believes Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the Indian side will pose a unique challenge for the hosts in the upcoming two-Test series, but has warned that India’s batters will also face a demanding examination against the Black Caps’ bowling attack.
The Test series, beginning November 19, will be the first red-ball meeting between the two teams since New Zealand stunned India with a historic 3-0 series sweep on Indian soil in 2024.
Bumrah is set to return to the Test setup after missing India’s series-winning tour of Sri Lanka in August due to a knee injury. Young acknowledged the Indian pace spearhead’s quality but insisted that New Zealand would be well equipped to challenge the visitors.
“He’s one of the best bowlers in the world. So we’ve got our work cut out for us but I think we’ve got some brilliant bowlers too. So the Indian batsmen will have to adapt to what we bring to the Test series too,” Young told reporters ahead of the ODI series decider.
He said the previous series in India was now in the past and both teams would face an entirely different challenge in New Zealand, with the two Tests scheduled at Wellington and Christchurch.
Young added that New Zealand’s 2024 triumph had given the squad considerable confidence. He recalled how the team had responded to a 2-0 defeat against Sri Lanka before travelling to India, developing clear plans against individual bowlers and backing themselves to play positively.
However, he stressed that conditions in New Zealand would demand a different approach, pointing to factors such as wind and the nature of the pitches.
Both sides have significant stakes in the series as they compete for places in next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval. New Zealand, the inaugural champions in 2021, are currently second behind South Africa, while India occupy fourth place.
Before the red-ball contest, Young also praised India’s pace attack in the ongoing ODI series, describing it as a well-balanced unit.
He highlighted Arshdeep Singh’s ability to move the ball both ways and said (Auqib) Nabi had demonstrated similar skills. Young also praised Anshul Kamboj, while noting Harpreet Brar’s aggression and effectiveness with the short ball.
Young said India’s seamers had brought a variety of skills to the ODI series, making the attack a challenging proposition for New Zealand’s batters.
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