In a high-stakes showdown against India in Dharamsala on a crisp Sunday, October 22, Daryl Mitchell’s masterful century skillfully rescued the BlackCaps from a precarious situation.
Daryl Mitchell once again proved his mettle as the dependable backbone of New Zealand’s middle order, crafting his inaugural century in the ODI World Cup. In a high-stakes showdown against India in Dharamsala on a crisp Sunday, October 22, Mitchell’s masterful century skillfully rescued the BlackCaps from a precarious situation.
His maiden World Cup century arrived with precisely 100 deliveries, showcasing his prowess as New Zealand sought to compile a competitive total, even after losing the toss at the picturesque HPCA Stadium.
Mitchell’s remarkable achievement marked him as only the second New Zealand batsman to achieve a World Cup century against India. The preceding Kiwi to etch his name in history was Glenn Turner, who accomplished this feat in 1975 with an unbeaten 114 in Manchester. Despite a series of 17 centuries by New Zealand batsmen post-Turner’s achievement, none had managed to replicate this milestone against India.
This century was doubly significant for Daryl Mitchell as it was not only his first in the ODI World Cup but also his fifth in the ODI format. The dynamic Rajasthan Royals batter had been displaying stellar form in the 2023 World Cup, evidenced by his pivotal contributions, including a 48 against the Netherlands in Hyderabad and an invaluable, unbeaten 89 against Bangladesh on a spin-friendly Chennai pitch.
As Mitchell reached his century, he removed his helmet and signaled to the dressing room, eliciting a standing ovation from all those who recognized his unwavering contribution as New Zealand’s finest middle-order batsman over the past two years.
Batting at No. 4, Mitchell partnered with Rachin Ravindra when New Zealand was reeling at 19 for 2 during the eighth over. With the absence of Hardik Pandya, India’s bowling unit appeared menacing, having already dismissed New Zealand’s openers, Devon Conway and Will Young, inexpensively via Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami.
Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, however, exhibited patience, regaining the momentum and piling the pressure back onto the Indian bowlers. Their partnership reached the 100-run milestone in 102 balls, ultimately culminating in a third-wicket partnership of 159 runs, a record high for New Zealand in a World Cup match against India.
These two stalwarts didn’t allow the Indian spinners to settle into any rhythm, with Kuldeep Yadav being their primary target. Mitchell’s calculated approach neutralized India’s spin threat during the middle overs, with him launching two sixes against Kuldeep within the spinner’s initial three overs.
In his pursuit of the century, Mitchell displayed his dominance with a total of four sixes and seven boundaries. Regrettably, Rachin Ravindra, the youthful talent who had previously notched a century against England on his World Cup debut in Ahmedabad on October 5, missed out on his second century, falling victim to Mohammed Shami after amassing 75 runs.