Mount Maunganui, November 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
New Zealand batter Will Young believes drawing the five-match ODI series against India would be a significant achievement for the hosts, particularly given the strength of their opponents, but insists the team must approach Sunday’s decider with the same mindset as any other match.
New Zealand head into the final ODI at Bay Oval after a commanding 244-run victory in the fourth match. Young scored 125 and Tim Seifert contributed 58 as the hosts posted 333. Matt Henry then dismantled India’s top order, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and captain Shreyas Iyer in the opening over. India were eventually bowled out for just 89.
Young said the opportunity to level the series against a strong Indian team provided additional motivation, even as New Zealand remained focused on the immediate challenge.
“Obviously our team will be slightly different with a few of our key players heading away to get ready for the Test series. So there’ll be a couple of adjustments to make there. But you’re right, it’s certainly a great carrot to have dangling in front of you to level the series and do that against a really strong Indian side will be really rewarding,” he told reporters on Saturday.
Several first-choice New Zealand players have left the ODI squad early to prepare for the Test series, which begins on November 19. Young said the changes would give other players an opportunity to make an impression.
He also urged the team to focus on the final match rather than dwell on its home ODI record, stressing the importance of adapting to the conditions and giving their best.
Reflecting on the emphatic win, Young said the batting partnership with Seifert had helped New Zealand build a strong platform. The pair assessed the pitch as better than the surfaces in Auckland and Wellington, where the hosts had lost the first two matches, and put together a competitive total.
Young acknowledged that he benefited from two dropped catches in the second over, both off Auqib Nabi’s bowling. Rohit and Ishan Kishan missed opportunities to dismiss him. He said he initially felt frustrated after the first reprieve but laughed off the second and concentrated on the next delivery.
The batter also praised Henry’s disciplined bowling, particularly his ability to maintain the ideal length during the twilight period. Henry finished with figures of 6-27, exploiting conditions in which the white ball appeared to gain extra pace off the surface.
After the ODI series, both teams will turn their attention to the Test contest, which Young said would carry significant importance for both sides in the World Test Championship.
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