Daryl Mitchell’s Rajkot Rampage: New Zealand Level Series with Record Chase!

The Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot is usually a place where bowlers go to have nightmares, and Wednesday night was no different. In a high-octane encounter that swung like a pendulum, New Zealand scripted history by pulling off their highest-ever successful ODI chase on Indian soil. While KL Rahul’s masterful century had India dreaming of a series win, Daryl Mitchell had other plans, producing a “knock for the ages” to silence the Rajkot crowd and level the three-match series 1-1.

1. Quick Facts

2. Introduction: A Night of Rajkot Records

The atmosphere at the Niranjan Shah Stadium was electric. With over 28,000 fans packed into the stands, the humidity was manageable, and the pitch looked like a highway smooth, flat, and inviting for any batter with a pulse. India came into the match leading 1-0, looking to wrap up the series. New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and, despite the “bat first and win” trend in Rajkot, opted to bowl, betting on the evening dew to make the chase easier. It was a gamble that would eventually pay off in spectacular fashion.

3. First Innings: Rahul’s Rescue Act

The Powerplay (Overs 1-6):

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started with the caution of a man walking on eggshells. The New Zealand new-ball pair of Kyle Jamieson and Zakary Foulkes extracted just enough movement to keep them in control. However, Gill soon found his groove, playing a couple of signature short-arm jabs. India ended the Powerplay at 42/0—steady, if not explosive.

Middle Overs: The Spin Strangle:

Just as India looked to accelerate the score, Rohit Sharma (24) fell, and shortly after, Shubman Gill departed for a well-made 50. The real shock came when Kristian Clarke dismissed Virat Kohli (23) and Shreyas Iyer (8) in quick succession. Suddenly, India were reeling at 118/4. The middle overs became a grind as Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul were forced to play “boring” cricket, rotating strike and rebuilding the innings brick by brick.

The Death Overs (Final 10 Overs):

If the middle overs were a slow drama, the final ten were a Michael Bay action movie. KL Rahul shifted from “steady worker” to “demolition man.” He brought out the reverse sweep, the ramp, and a massive six over long-on to reach his 8th ODI century off just 87 balls. With help from debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (20), Rahul propelled India to 284/7, scoring 91 runs in the final 10 overs.

4. Second Innings: The Mitchell Masterclass

The Brisk Start:

New Zealand’s chase didn’t start according to plan. Harshit Rana continued his dream run, cleaning up Devon Conway (16) with a delivery that sent the off-stump on a vacation. When Prasidh Krishna removed Henry Nicholls (10) via a “chopped-on” dismissal, New Zealand were 46/2. The Rajkot crowd was in full voice, smelling a series victory.

The Turning Point:

The momentum shifted in the 20th over when Daryl Mitchell decided he’d had enough of the “waiting game.” He took on Kuldeep Yadav, smashing a straight six that seemed to deflate the Indian spinners. That over was the spark. Alongside Will Young, who played the perfect cricket with a solid score of 87, Mitchell turned the chase into a calculated clinical assault. They put on a massive 162-run partnership, effectively taking the game away from India’s grasp.

The Finish:

Even when Will Young fell to Kuldeep in the 38th over, the damage was done. Mitchell remained unmoved, reaching his hundred and then accelerating further. The game ended with a touch of comedy and class; Mitchell tumbled while hitting an audacious falling shot off Harshit Rana, sending the ball to the boundary to cap off a marathon 131-run chase.

5. Player Comments: Straight from the Presentation

• Daryl Mitchell (Player of the Match): “It’s always special to contribute to a win in India. The plan was to take it deep and stay busy. The pitch got better under lights, and I just tried to stay in my bubble. That last shot? I’m just glad it hit the bat and not my head!”
• Shubman Gill (India Captain): “We were probably 20 runs short, but credit to New Zealand. They batted exceptionally well. We had them at 46/2, but we couldn’t capitalize. The dew played a part, but we need to be better at picking wickets in the middle overs.”
• Michael Bracewell (NZ Captain): “Very proud of the boys. To chase 280-plus in India is never easy. Daryl was world-class tonight, and Will Young’s knock allowed him to play his natural game.”

Conclusion: All Roads Lead to Indore

This result gave life to the next match at Indore. New Zealand has broken India’s eight-match winning streak against them. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams now head to the Holkar Stadium in Indore for the decider on Sunday.