Daryl Mitchell delivered a series-defining performance to spearhead New Zealand’s first-ever bilateral ODI series win in India, finishing as the leading run-scorer and reclaiming the No.1 position in the ICC ODI batting rankings.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, the 34-year-old amassed 352 runs across the three-match series, including two centuries, as the Black Caps sealed a 2–1 series victory in Indore.
Mitchell’s ninth ODI hundred in the decider laid the foundation for New Zealand’s historic triumph, even as Virat Kohli fought hard with a superb 124 off 108 balls in a losing cause for India.
Mitchell’s series haul is the highest by a New Zealander in a three-match ODI series and the third-most overall, behind only Babar Azam and Shubman Gill. He scored centuries in consecutive matches, taking his tally of 130-plus ODI scores to four, drawing level with Martin Guptill for the most by a New Zealand batter.
His performances also saw him become the fourth-fastest male cricketer to reach nine ODI hundreds, achieving the feat in just 54 innings.
In the field, Mitchell was involved in the defining moment of the series when he held a crucial catch to dismiss Kohli in the decider, effectively ending India’s hopes of an unlikely chase and underlining his all-round impact on the contest.
The prolific run earned Mitchell 845 rating points in the latest ICC ODI rankings, pushing him back to the top of the list ahead of Kohli, who slipped to second. It marked the second time Mitchell has held the No.1 ODI ranking, having briefly occupied the position late last year.
Mitchell also etched his name into the record books by scoring four ODI centuries against India at home, second only to AB de Villiers among visiting batters. Remarkably, he is yet to be dismissed for a duck in his ODI career, a streak spanning all 54 innings so far.
The achievement caps a unique rise for the Hamilton-born batter, who made his international debut only in 2019 at the age of 28 and played his first ODI at 30. After years in domestic cricket, Mitchell has emerged as one of the most consistent and dependable batters in world cricket.
New Zealand’s series win marked a landmark moment in their cricketing history, as they secured their first bilateral ODI series victory on Indian soil, driven by Mitchell’s sustained excellence across all three matches.
