Devastating batting from Daryl Mitchell overshadowed Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 112-run innings. Attempting a scoop shot off an outside-off delivery, Mitchell timed it perfectly. The ball sailed over the keeper’s head and landed for a boundary. Smiling as he ran the crease, the New Zealand batsman’s joy at guiding his team to victory was clear for all to see.
In Rajkot on Wednesday, New Zealand leveled the three-match series by defeating India by seven wickets, chasing down a target of 285 with 15 balls to spare.
This is New Zealand’s highest successful ODI chase on Indian soil. Previously, their biggest chase was 283 against England in the 2023 World Cup.
The star of the day was Mitchell, who scored his eighth ODI century, remaining unbeaten on 131 off 117 balls, including 2 sixes and 11 fours. He was the obvious choice for Player of the Match.
Even in the first ODI loss, Mitchell had impressed with the bat, scoring 84 in excellent form. In his last six ODI innings, he has two centuries and three fifties to his name.
Will Young also played a key role, putting on a 162-run partnership with Mitchell for the third wicket. He scored 87 off 7 fours, narrowly missing a century.
On the other hand, Lokesh Rahul shone in India’s innings. His 112* off 92 balls, studded with a six and 11 fours, was in vain against Mitchell’s brilliant counterattack.
After losing the toss, India’s openers Rohit Sharma (24 off 28, 4 fours) and Shubman Gill (56 off 47, 9 fours) gave India a solid start with a 70-run opening stand. Christian Clarke broke the partnership by dismissing Rohit.
Virat Kohli, opening his account with a four off the first ball of his innings, brought up his fifty off 47 balls by hitting Kyle Jamieson for a boundary. Jamieson also dismissed Gill, who scored 56 off 51 balls, including a six and nine fours.
Shreyas Iyer couldn’t reach double figures against Clarke, and Kohli, who had scored fifties in the last five ODIs, failed to anchor the innings this time. Clarke bowled him out at the stumps.
With India reeling at 48/4, Rahul steadied the innings alongside Ravindra Jadeja, putting on a 73-run partnership. Jadeja’s 27 off 44 ended with a sharp catch by Michael Bracewell.
Rahul continued, reaching his fifty off 52 balls, and eventually completed his eighth ODI century with a six off the last ball of the 49th over, finishing unbeaten on 112. This was his first century since 2023.
Chasing the target, New Zealand lost openers Devon Conway (16) and Henry Nicholls (10) early, both bowled, but Young and Mitchell steadied the chase.
Mitchell took control, hitting a six off the fifth ball he faced and following it with a four and six off Kuldeep Yadav. Both he and Young reached their fifties in quick succession—Mitchell in 52 balls, Young in 68.
In the 36th over, Mitchell survived two close calls, avoiding a run-out and hitting Kuldeep for a six on the very next ball. He later reached his century in 96 balls, with Glenn Phillips supporting him in a 78-run partnership, taking New Zealand to a comfortable victory.
The series decider, the third ODI, will be played on Sunday.
Brief Scorecard
- India: 284/7 in 50 overs (Rohit 24, Gill 56, Kohli 23, Shreyas 8, Rahul 112*, Jadeja 27, Nitish 20, Harshit 2, Siraj 2*; Jamieson 10-2-70-1, Fox 9-0-67-1, Clarke 8-0-56-3, Lenox 10-0-42-1, Bracewell 10-1-34-1, Phillips 3-0-13-0)
- New Zealand: 286/3 in 47.3 overs (Conway 16, Nicholls 10, Young 87, Mitchell 131*, Phillips 32*; Siraj 9-0-41-0, Harshit 9.3-1-52-1, Prasidh 9-0-49-1, Nitish 2-0-13-0, Jadeja 8-0-44-0, Kuldeep 10-0-82-1)
Result: New Zealand won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Daryl Mitchell
Series: 3-match series tied 1–1
