NEW DELHI: India captain Shreyas Iyer described the ODI series against New Zealand as one dominated by bowlers, praising his team’s ability to adapt to challenging conditions and deliver when it mattered. India secured a 22-run victory in the fifth ODI at Bay Oval on Sunday, defending a modest total of 209 to clinch the five-match series 3-1.Reflecting on the series, Iyer said: “It was a series for bowlers, not for batters. Everyone stood up to the occasion.”Iyer also spoke about his experience leading India in the ODI format, describing it as both challenging and exhausting, but an exciting experience. He felt the series presented different phases, with the game slowing down at certain points and testing the team’s ability to assess the pace of the contest.“I enjoyed leading in ODI. Challenging, exhausting… there was a period where the game went slow. That’s how you gauge the pace. Exciting. One win, one loss, 50-50!” he said.Despite being bowled out for 89 in the fourth ODI, India responded strongly in the series decider. Iyer said the team was determined to give its best and did not need an extensive discussion at the halfway stage, despite having only 209 runs on the board.“We wanted to give everything and there was no major discussion at the halfway mark,” he explained.On his bowling strategy, Iyer revealed that he continued with his planned combination of seamers, trusting them to build pressure and take wickets through partnerships.“I stuck with the plan of seamers and wickets kept coming. When bowlers bowled in partnerships, you bowl tight from one end and pick wicket from the other,” he said.India’s seamers justified that approach, restricting New Zealand to 187 in 49 overs. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with three wickets for 30 runs, while the bowling unit prevented the hosts from building momentum during the middle overs.Looking ahead, Iyer acknowledged that the upcoming conditions in South Africa would present a different challenge, particularly with changing weather and conditions. He also pointed out that batting had been difficult for both sides throughout the contest.“You never know what will happen in South Africa. Weather will be different. Batting didn’t happen from both teams… wicket was for bowlers. Most important is to win series and we won,” Iyer said.The Indian captain also addressed the team’s response to its heavy defeat in the fourth ODI, where Matt Henry’s bowling proved particularly difficult to handle. Iyer said the side quickly put the loss behind them rather than allowing it to affect their preparations for the decider.“We forgot about the fourth ODI loss the next day. Matt Henry was bowling gas… he was lethal. We accepted and moved on,” he added.India’s victory in the final ODI completed a successful campaign, with the team overcoming difficult batting conditions and a crushing defeat to finish the series with a 3-1 result.
