Daryl Mitchell's Stellar Performance Earns Praise from Ashwin
Ashwin's Commendation of Daryl Mitchell
Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian cricketer, has praised New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, describing him as a 'brainy cricketer' who effectively utilizes his skills. Ashwin believes that Mitchell can contribute significantly to a franchise, potentially scoring 400-500 runs while batting at the number three or four position during a tournament.
Mitchell's Remarkable ODI Series Against India
Daryl Mitchell had an unforgettable ODI series against India, where his two consecutive centuries helped New Zealand recover from an initial defeat in the first ODI. This victory marked New Zealand's first ODI series win in India since they began competing there in 1988. Mitchell's performance has solidified his reputation as a formidable opponent in India, joining the ranks of other notable players like Steve Smith and Joe Root. Out of his nine ODI centuries, four have been scored against India, making him the second-highest Kiwi century-maker against the team, following Nathan Astle. In three ODIs, he amassed 352 runs at an impressive average of 176.00, including two centuries and a fifty.
Ashwin's Insights on Mitchell's Game
On his YouTube channel 'Ash ki Baat', Ashwin elaborated on Mitchell's capabilities, stating, 'He is a clever player who understands the game situation well. I had the opportunity to play alongside him at Rajasthan Royals. While he may not be a natural T20 player, he can adapt to the format. CSK acquired him for Rs 14 crores, and he managed to score around 300 runs at a strike rate of 140, which is commendable. He may lack raw power, but he maximizes his potential. If you need someone to score 400-500 runs at number three or four, Mitchell is the right choice. He is often underrated but possesses great cricketing intelligence.'
Mitchell's T20 Performance Overview
In the IPL 2024 season, Daryl Mitchell played 13 matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), scoring 318 runs at an average of 28.90 and a strike rate exceeding 142, including two fifties. Despite his performance, he went unsold in the IPL auction prior to the season. In his T20I career for New Zealand, he has accumulated 1,674 runs in 90 matches, averaging 27.00 with a strike rate above 138, featuring eight fifties and a top score of 72*.
Mitchell's Impressive Record Against India
Among players with at least 500 ODI runs against India, Mitchell boasts the highest average, trailing only Australia's George Bailey (74), South African legends Gary Kirsten (62.6) and Jacques Kallis (61.4), and Australia's Usman Khawaja (59.9). His run tally in this series is the highest for New Zealand in a three-match ODI series, with only Pakistan's Babar Azam (360 runs against West Indies in 2016) and Shubman Gill (360 against New Zealand in 2023) surpassing him.
Recap of the Series-Deciding Match
In the decisive match, Daryl Mitchell scored an impressive 137*, while Glenn Phillips contributed 106 runs, leading New Zealand to a total of 337/8, despite three wickets taken by Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. After a shaky start at 5/2 and later 58/3, the pair formed a remarkable 219-run partnership, putting New Zealand in a strong position. In response, India struggled at 71/4, but a spirited 88-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Nitish Kumar Reddy (who scored 53 off 57 balls) and a 99-run partnership between Virat and Harshit Rana (52 off 43 balls) provided hope. Kohli's masterful innings of 124 runs off 108 balls thrilled the Indore crowd, but once he was dismissed, India collapsed, finishing at 296 all out in 46 overs, thus conceding the series 1-2.