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Follow UsWith Kane Williamson in the squad, the chance for Will Young to play at No. 3 was hanging by a thread. However, the former New Zealand skipper, who has had injury issues in the past was set to miss the first Test, with an eye to play the next two. However, that didn't materialise, which gave Young the prime opportunity to play the entire Test series.
What has stood out from Young's point of view is the partnerships he has built in this series. He put on 75 off 116 in the first Test in Bengaluru to further extend the lead after Devon Conway and Tom Latham had put on 67 for the first wicket after India got out for just 46.
He then stepped up in the second innings once again, with New Zealand needing just 107. He first absorbed the pressure after his side lost Latham in the first over - first putting up 25 off 69 with Conway before finishing unbeaten on 48, where he knocked off the remaining runs alongside Rachin Ravindra.
History beckoned for New Zealand in the second Test in Pune, as a win would have seen them win a series in India for the first time. Hurting from the loss in Bengaluru, a rank-turner was expected in Pune. Latham seemed confident ahead of the match, saying that he has four top spinners to counter such conditions.
While Mitchell Santner may have stolen the limelight with 13 wickets, Young did his job. While he did not score big, he put on 44 with Conway in the first innings and then 42 with Latham when he got the chance to bat next.
Even before his 71 in Mumbai, Young had shown his mantle against spin — his assured footwork and the ability to put the bad ball away. The extra zip on the surface did not bother him, nor did the deliveries that kept low. He got past them in a jiffy and focused on the next delivery, which is something all the Kiwi batters have done through the series, and that's why they have been successful.
Among the New Zealand batters, only Daryl Mitchell (average 42) and Ravindra (44.25) have fared better than Young (39.5) against spinners in the series.
While Mitchell finally came to the party in Mumbai, what the Blackcaps can be proud of is the way Young has carried himself in what is without a doubt the toughest tour of his Test career. While he may not have scored a big hundred, he has certainly done what was required in that particular period and managed to give his side a bit of an edge.
While Williamson is all but set to return for the home Tests against England, could there still be a place for Young? Even if that happens, will they continue to back him at three? This is a headache New Zealand won't mind having.
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