NEW DELHI: India captain Shreyas Iyer had a message for his team and fans after guiding the side to a 3-2 T20I series victory over New Zealand, but it was not in English or Hindi. Instead, Iyer chose a four-word Maori expression that left many cricket fans curious about its meaning.Taking to social media after the series concluded on Sunday, Iyer shared a set of photographs from India’s campaign, accompanied by the caption “Ka mau te wehi” and a trophy emoji.The unusual phrase quickly caught attention, with fans and cricket followers trying to decipher what the India skipper was attempting to convey through his post.As it turned out, Iyer had picked a popular Maori expression native to New Zealand, the country where India had just completed their international assignment.The phrase, pronounced approximately kah mow teh feh-hee, is an enthusiastic expression of admiration and excitement. It translates to “Awesome!”, “That’s amazing!” or “Absolutely brilliant!” in everyday usage.
What does ‘Ka mau te wehi’ mean?
“Ka mau te wehi” is a Maori kiwaha (colloquial saying or idiom) used to express admiration, amazement or appreciation for something exceptional.While its literal sense is associated with being gripped by awe or wonder, its everyday meaning is closer to saying “Fantastic!”, “Outstanding!” or “What a performance!”The word wehi conveys a sense of awe, wonder or an intense emotional reaction. In Maori cultural and performing arts traditions, including kapa haka, it can describe the powerful feeling of being moved or impressed by a performance.Iyer’s choice of words was particularly fitting for an Indian side that had managed to secure a series victory on New Zealand soil despite a challenging finish.India had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead by winning the first three matches, but New Zealand fought back with victories in the final two games.
What Shreyas Iyer said after India’s series win
Despite the series triumph, Iyer admitted that India could have performed better, particularly after failing to capitalise on a promising batting platform in the final T20I.Reflecting on the seven-wicket defeat, the India captain pointed to the middle-order collapse after his partnership with Ishan Kishan had provided momentum.“It was plausible honestly. We could have been better considering the start we got in the middle overs, the way Ishan and I, we created the momentum. And then from there on we lost back-to-back wickets. And then suddenly pressure on the new batsman,” Iyer said during the post-match presentation.
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He also identified bowling and fielding as areas that needed improvement, describing the tour as a valuable learning experience.“I think we still could have been better with our bowling and fielding. We were a bit sloppy. But great learning. I think coming overseas, coming to New Zealand, getting to play on such different occasions, different grounds. Yeah, great learning curve,” he added.
What Gautam Gambhir said about captain Shreyas Iyer
India head coach Gautam Gambhir was particularly impressed with the way Iyer handled the responsibility of leading a relatively inexperienced bowling attack.Praising the captain despite the defeats in the final two matches, Gambhir highlighted the challenges of taking charge of a successful side while providing opportunities to younger players.“So, I thought that Shreyas has done a fabulous job with so much inexperience in the bowling lineup because as a captain, you’re only as good as how your bowlers or your batters perform. And especially with an inexperienced attack, I think he’s done a phenomenal job,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.The coach also praised the team’s overall effort, considering the limited preparation time after the preceding T20I assignment against the West Indies.India’s 3-2 series victory, despite losing the final two matches, offered another positive takeaway for Gambhir, who reiterated that the team’s aggressive approach would remain unchanged.
