After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, India set a solid score of 284 for seven at Rajkot. However, it wasn’t enough as New Zealand successfully chased down the target with 15 balls remaining, setting the stage for an exciting series finale.
Mitchell once again showcased his rising reputation in ODI cricket, ending with an undefeated 131 off 117 balls. Coming in during a challenging situation with New Zealand at 46 for two, the 34-year-old handled the pressure before seizing control of the chase.
He received excellent support from Will Young, as the pair constructed a pivotal 162-run partnership that shifted the momentum away from the hosts. Mitchell, who was dropped on 80 by Prasidh Krishna, capitalized on the mistake, ultimately securing his eighth ODI hundred.
This performance marked yet another outstanding outing for Mitchell, who has had a remarkable 2025 in the format, amassing 761 runs at an average of 54.35. “We haven’t won here for a couple of years. Nice to get a win. I am just enjoying doing the job for the country,” Mitchell expressed.
“Young is a class player; I love batting with him. We have fun together. He enjoyed facing the spinners and utilized all his options.”
Young (87) was also close to a century when he top-edged a Kuldeep Yadav delivery, resulting in the ball looping into the hands of Nitish Kumar Reddy, concluding the partnership.
India’s efforts came too late, as Mitchell and Glenn Phillips (32) guided New Zealand past the finish line, achieving their highest-ever ODI run chase in India.
“It was a complete performance from us and I’m proud of the team. We felt really good at the halfway mark. We bowled exceptionally well. We were prepared to chase anything,” commented New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kristian Clarke claimed three crucial wickets, disrupting India’s top-order by sending Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Virat Kohli back to the pavilion.
KL Rahul was the backbone of India’s innings, scoring an unbeaten 112 from 92 balls.
He formed a 73-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (27) and another 57 with Reddy (20), marking his eighth century and matching his joint-highest score in the 50-over format.
“We had a decent start with the ball, but they batted very well in the middle overs,” said India captain Shubman Gill.
“In the first 10-15 overs, we bowled well. After that, the wicket settled down. But we could have been braver and taken more risks.”
The crucial third match of the series will take place in Indore, leading up to the teams’ preparations for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup with a five-match T20I series.
(With Reuters inputs)
