IND vs NZ 2025: The highly anticipated ODI series between India and New Zealand begins on January 11 at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. This event brings the Black Caps back to a place where they recently broke several records. Will Young returns to Indian soil feeling good after a historic run.
He was a key part of New Zealand's big 3-0 Test sweep of India in late 2024. That tour is still a major highlight for the Kiwi batter. He finished that trip as the Player of the Series after taking apart the Indian spin attack. Young considers that clean sweep the best moment of his Test career so far. However, he makes it clear that old wins or recent losses don't matter much for this new 50-over series.
IND vs NZ 2025: Will Young Dismisses Revenge Talk Ahead of India ODI Series Opener in Baroda
Reporters naturally asked Young if the team are looking to get even for their tough loss to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final. The 32-year-old batter was quick to shut that down. He said the Black CPAs are only thinking about the new challenge in front of them.
Young told the media that the squad sees the Champions Trophy loss as old news. A big reason for this is that today's lineups are pretty different from the ones that played in Dubai. He mentioned that the players feel excited rather than weighed down by the past.
They are getting ready for a three-match series that comes with its own set of tactical puzzles. The visitors want to play the same brave cricket that helped them dominate the Tests. They plan to do this even while switching formats against an Indian side that is always tough to beat at home.
“It’s a completely different challenge (than) that was the Champions Trophy, they were different sides so that’s behind us. It’s not even in our minds at all. We’re excited by a three-match bilateral series in one-day cricket, and when the game starts,” Young told the media ahead of the first ODI against India, as quoted by Sports Tak.
Champions Trophy Heartbreak and the Road to 2026
The dramatic Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai is why everyone is talking about revenge. In that big game, India kept New Zealand from winning a major ICC title. Rohit Sharma led the Men in Blue to a solid win that day. It meant the Kiwis had to settle for another runners-up medal in a global tournament.
During that match, India stepped up in the big moments with both bat and ball. They did a great job of shutting down New Zealand's bowlers on a pitch that was good for batting. Fans and experts might try to link that loss to this new series, but the reality is different. Both teams are actually using these games to figure out their best setups for what's coming next.
This ODI series is a big chance for both teams to experiment as they get ready for the T20 World Cup 2026. India and Sri Lanka will host that tournament together. Even though the formats aren't the same, playing in tough Indian conditions gives the New Zealand coaches a lot of useful info.
The Black Caps have to get used to the local pitches quickly. These same surfaces will likely be the key at the next World Cup. Meanwhile, India want to test their bench strength and the combination for the ODI World Cup in 2027. They also want to keep up the winning habit that got them the Champions Trophy title. Both sides know that winning the mental battle now could really pay off when the pressure goes up in 2026.
