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NFL: player props on betcha'Otherworldy': Mitchell's India heroics leave Blackcaps in awe
Stephen Foote • January 19th, 2026 11:16 am
Daryl Mitchell | Photo: NZC
Just when you think his tour of India couldn't get any better, Daryl Mitchell goes and does it again.
The white-hot Blackcaps batter added to his statement series with a masterful 137 off 131 balls in the decisive third contest, powering the New Zealanders to an historic ODI series triumph on Indian soil courtesy of a stress-free 41-run victory.
Seamer Kyle Jamieson had a front-row seat for proceedings in Indore, where Mitchell again combined with Glenn Phillips to devastating effect in Indore - this time in a 219-run fourth-wicket partnership off just 188 balls.
"That was seriously impressive," Jamieson told Sport Nation.
"A few wickets down early and the way initially Daryl and Will Young put on that partnership, and then [Glenn Phillips] came in and it was just incredible to watch.
"They just took us from a position of not great strength to one where we felt like it was a really competitive total if we were able to bowl well.
"Daryl's series numbers will speak for themselves but it's just sort of otherworldly really."
And otherworldly, those series numbers are.
Michael Bracewell & Daryl Mitchell with the spoils of victory | Photo: NZC
The century was Mitchell's second in as many games, leaving him with an absurd series average of 176.
He finishes the three matches having boosted his overall ODI average to a jaw-dropping 58.47 - the third-highest career batting average recorded in the format's history.
Suffice to say, back to full fitness, Mitchell has taken the cricketing world by storm in India - just an inch shy of Virat Kohli in the No. 2 spot on the ICC rankings for the planet's best 50-over bats.
Asked to identify what he'd seen click in Mitchell's game of late, Jamieson provided some insight from behind the curtain.
"I think he's just managed to find that perfect tempo for one-day cricket and he's found a method that's worked for him over a period of time now and he's just sticking to that.
Daryl Mitchell after Blackcaps' historic ODI series triumph in India | Sport Nation
"The way he goes about it, he builds an innings pretty much risk-free and chance-less and then just gets himself going.
"He's certainly playing pretty well at the moment and it's just a pleasure to be on the same side."
As for his own performance, Jamieson's figures of 1/58 off nine overs don't jump off the page - until you consider that one wicket was one of the the critical in the Indian order, skittling Shubman Gill just as the skipper was starting to find his rhythm.
Alongside career best figures of 4/41 in the opening match, Jamieson departs the subcontinent pleased with his efforts after another injury plagued summer.
"I feel my game's getting there slowly," assessed the Aucklander.
"I felt through the first part of the home summer I was a little bit off from where I wanted to be. But that's the nature of coming back from injuries, you don't just jump back on where you left off, you've got to build and get those reps under the belt again.
"I feel like I'm building nicely and just enjoying playing games of cricket."
Listen to the full interview below:
