Will Young showcased a commanding performance as New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 whitewash over India in their recent Test series. Initially slated to be a reserve batter for the subcontinent tour, Young seized his chance when Kane Williamson was sidelined due to injury. His aggressive approach against India, particularly his use of sweep and reverse-sweep shots, earned him 244 runs, making him the series’ third-highest scorer and a standout for New Zealand.
Reflecting on his innings, Young spoke about how he prepared for the challenge of facing India’s top spinners, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. Young explained that he and New Zealand’s batting group had been consistently learning from their subcontinent tours, which included visits to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as encounters with spin-friendly pitches back home. This cumulative experience, he said, contributed to their adaptability and success against India.
In one critical passage of play in Mumbai, Young’s aggressive tactics challenged Rohit Sharma’s fielding plans. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Young described how Jadeja had initially placed a fielder at mid-off but later brought him up, aiming to restrict Young’s scoring options. “Jadeja and Rohit brought mid-off up, which had usually been set back to bring slips into play for right-handers pushing to the off-side,” Young explained. Seeing an opening, Young decided to take the chance to loft the ball over mid-off.
Young credited teammate Daryl Mitchell for giving him the confidence to make the shot. “Between overs, I spoke to Daryl, and he encouraged me, saying, ‘Just back yourself and stay down through the shot,’” Young recalled. He took the opportunity to play his shot, prompting Rohit to revert to a more defensive field, allowing Young to continue his approach undeterred.
New Zealand ultimately clinched the series with a 25-run victory in Mumbai, marking India’s first-ever home series whitewash in a three-Test series or longer. The win also made New Zealand the fourth team in history to sweep India at home, joining England, Australia, and the West Indies in this rare achievement.
