India lost the match against New Zealand by seven wickets in the first ODI at Eden Park in Auckland. Left-hander batter Tom Latham played a blinder by hitting an unbeaten 145 off 104 balls while skipper Kane Williamson smashed an unconquered 94 off 98 deliveries and helped New Zealand to chase down India's 307-run target.
India batter Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the fact that a few things did not pan out well for them. "The situation we were in and from there to reach 307 is a commendable total. Definitely, some things didn't go our way today but it's a learning curve, we can introspect, come back with new ideas in the next game," Iyer said in the post-match press conference.
"It's not easy to directly come from India and play here. Wickets keep on changing in every place and this is a challenge that you need to face. You have to be mentally strong, just have to adapt to the situations”.
Iyer was impressed with Tom Latham and skipper Kane Williamson’s innings. New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series on Friday.
"Both of them (Latham and Williamson) played fantastic knocks. They knew which bowlers to target at a specific time. I believe their partnership completely changed the scenario of the game and that was a crucial phase for us to get wickets.
"If we would have got one wicket we would have been under their skin and the situation could have been completely different. But kudos to them that they found the strength to convert those loose balls into boundaries and sixes. They were fearless in their approach and I feel that's what helped them," Iyer added.
"The way Latham took over that over (40th), I think that completely shifted the momentum towards them. He wanted to come in and he wanted to build that partnerships. Since they have been playing together for so many years so they know their strengths and weaknesses pretty closely,'" Iyer stated.
"Approach is always optimistic. I don't like to think much about the future, whatever is in my hands I do and try to live in the present. Players will come and go but consistency is what is going to matter. Ups and downs are in everyone's career, there is nothing called stable. When people are talking outside, I just like to be in my zone and that's what helps me.”
"The learning from this match is that when we got a wicket we could have created more pressure. If we could have curbed Latham's start definitely we would have been on top of them," he added.
India will play the second ODI against the Kiwis in Hamilton on Sunday.