India captain Shreyas Iyer declared himself 'ecstatic' after his side completed a historic double — winning both the T20I and ODI series in New Zealand — following a tense 22-run victory in the fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on 15 November 2026. Defending a modest total of 209, India bowled New Zealand out for 187 to seal the 50-over series 3-1.

Iyer's Post-Match Verdict

'Ecstatic. Both the series, T20 and ODI, coming over here, we were provided with different conditions. The weather kept changing. Faced with a lot of challenges and coming out triumphant, I think it's a great achievement,' Shreyas Iyer said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The right-handed batter, captaining India in just his second ODI as skipper, reflected on a moment of doubt during the innings. 'And today we had that certain kind of belief even though we didn't get that many runs in batting. But still, we were hoping that we could change the game at any point in time. And I'm glad that every individual thought in the same direction and we were able to execute that,' he added.

Bowlers the Difference in a Batters' Nightmare Series

Iyer was emphatic in crediting the bowling unit as the decisive factor across a series that offered little assistance to batsmen in New Zealand's swing-friendly conditions. 'Definitely, if you see the whole series, it wasn't a series for batsmen. The way the bowlers bowled, they stood up to the occasion and definitely were confident enough to see to it that they would get the team through irrespective of the conditions,' said Iyer.

He described the character shown by each member of the attack as 'top-notch' — notable praise given that India were operating with a squad partially depleted by Test preparations and injuries. The touring side's pace attack, in particular, exploited the Bay Oval conditions to dismantle New Zealand's batting line-up and defend a below-par score.

No Excuses Despite Chopping and Changing

Asked about the challenges of managing a rotating squad, Iyer acknowledged the difficulty but was firm that the team refused to use disruption as a crutch. 'Yes, absolutely. At some point of time it becomes challenging for the players when there's chopping and changing. They need to acclimatise to the condition and adapt. But we didn't want to give any excuse. We just wanted to live up to our expectations and every individual were just willing to come out here and give their best,' he said.

This comes amid a broader India white-ball cycle that has seen squad management take centre stage, with the BCCI juggling Test and limited-overs commitments simultaneously.

Indian Fans and the Rivalry with New Zealand

Iyer also singled out the Indian supporters who travelled to New Zealand in large numbers, calling their unconditional backing — regardless of results — 'very heartening.' He noted that the growing support base reflects the sport's expanding reach beyond traditional strongholds.

On the nature of the India-New Zealand rivalry, the captain struck a candid note: 'Off the field we should be friendly, but on the field it's like a war.' With the series now concluded, both sides will shift focus to the upcoming Test assignment, where conditions and personnel will shift considerably once again.