Daryl Mitchell Hails Indian Spinners as World Class Despite Rajkot Win
New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell delivered a stunning performance in Rajkot on Wednesday. His unbeaten century of 131 runs powered the Kiwis to a convincing seven-wicket victory, leveling the ODI series against India. Despite this dominant win, Mitchell was quick to acknowledge the quality of the Indian bowling attack he faced.
High Praise for Kuldeep and Jadeja
Mitchell offered strong words of respect for India's spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Even though they had a quiet day during the match, the New Zealand star firmly believes in their ability.
"Kuldeep and Jadeja are world class bowlers," Mitchell stated clearly. "They find ways to put pressure on us and they're some of the best spinners going around."
He admitted his team was fortunate to build strong partnerships that day, which helped them counter the spinners' threat. Mitchell also recalled their past performances, noting he has seen them dismantle batting line-ups on numerous occasions.
Secret Preparation for Subcontinent Pitches
The Player of the Match also revealed the extensive behind-the-scenes work that goes into succeeding in Indian conditions. As a cricketer from New Zealand, he does not grow up playing on slow, turning tracks.
"There's been plenty, plenty mornings in the marquee down in the South Island in Lincoln," Mitchell explained. His team prepared on specially made dusty wickets to simulate subcontinent conditions and develop effective game plans.
He emphasized that this hard work often goes unseen by the public, away from the glamour of television and stadium lights. For Mitchell, the reward comes from representing his country and competing at the highest level across all formats of the game.
Mitchell's Remarkable Record in India
Daryl Mitchell's century in Rajkot is part of an extraordinary run of form against India in their own backyard. His recent scores against the Men in Blue tell a compelling story:
- 131 not out in Rajkot (2nd ODI, 2026)
- 84 in a previous match
- 134 in another innings
- 130 in yet another outing
His overall statistics in the subcontinent are equally impressive. He has amassed 1,457 ODI runs here at an average of 56.03, including five centuries and six half-centuries. Specifically in India, his numbers are stellar: 801 runs from just 15 matches at an average of 66.75, with three hundreds and three fifties.
Adapting to Different Conditions
Mitchell spoke about the challenge of adapting his game. New Zealand pitches are typically bouncy and grassy, which is very different from the surfaces in India.
"The nature of playing international cricket is you have to find ways to adapt your game," he said. This adaptation has been a years-long learning process for him.
He has developed a clear method for batting in these conditions, focusing on putting the bowlers under pressure. Mitchell uses various techniques to achieve this:
- Using his feet to get to the pitch of the ball
- Employing the sweep shot effectively
- Moving around in the crease to disrupt the bowler's line and length
His success proves that the preparation and strategy are paying off, even against world-class spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
