Daryl Mitchell has earned a reputation for being an important Kiwi player against India in ODIs. He has proved it again by putting on a half century against India in the finals of the Champions Trophy happening in Dubai. Although, despite the half century, Mitchell’s effort was an unusually subdued one as he also registers an unwanted record for the Kiwis.
New Zelaand’s trouble in first innings
New Zealand began their innings with promise. Rachin Ravindra and Will Young constructed an effective 57-run partnership at the top, firing shots against Indian bowlers. Ravindra played with aggression, hitting boundaries and a six against Indian pacers like Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya. Yet, the introduction of India’s spinners quickly transformed the match. Varun Chakravarthy struck first, dismissing Young, while Kuldeep Yadav’s deceptive googlies removed Ravindra and Kane Williamson, causing New Zealand to falter at 83 for 3 after 15 overs.
Daryl Mitchell saves Kiwis from collapse
As wickets tumbled around him, Daryl Mitchell stepped in to stabilise the innings. His approach was cautious, unlike his usual aggressive self. Mitchell painstakingly compiled 63 runs from 101 balls, reaching his half-century after an exhausting 91-ball struggle, it was a stark contrast to his prior performances, where he scored much faster, such as the commanding 134 off 119 in the World Cup semifinals in November 2023 against India.
Since 2023, Daryl Mitchell has been impressive against India in ODIs, scoring 368 runs in 5 innings at an average of 73.60. His performances include two centuries. Mitchell’s ability to score big has made him a key player for New Zealand when facing India.
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Mitchell’s slow innings hurt Kiwis
Despite Mitchell’s attempt to anchor the innings, New Zealand’s run rate hovered marginally above 4 which seems less against Indian side. This puts Mitchell’s fifty as the slowest one in the last 11 years for any Kiwi batter. His knock was though important in holding the innings together, but the low run rate failed to shift the momentum back towards New Zealand. He went back after losing his wicket for 63 runs, where his usual magic against India briefly flickered but did not ignite.
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