India, Feb. 19 -- Will Young was not supposed to play if Rachin Ravindra was fully fit. Ravindra, who hurt his face after losing sight of the ball while trying to take a catch in a tri-series match earlier this month, is certain to be available for New Zealand's next group match against India, which is 11 days away. But it will be extremely difficult (read impossible) for the New Zealand think tank to drop Young as the right-hander smashed the first century of Champions Trophy 2025 in the opening match of the tournament against host Pakistan at the Nation Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.

This was Young's fourth century in ODIs and the maiden one away from home. In the process, he became only the fourth New Zealand batter after Chris Cair...