India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Mitchell’s 131 Powers New Zealand to 7-Wicket Victory

Daryll Mitchell’s unbeaten 131 for New Zealand, helping his side achieve their greatest ODI chase ever on the Indian subcontinent as they defeated India by 7 wickets, leveling the 3-match ODI series at 1-1, at Rajkot on January 14, 2026. They chased 284/7 with 15 balls to spare, after converting a potentially competitive score into a relatively easy one to pursue.

Match Details

What Happened at Niranjan Shah Stadium?

New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and put India in to bat at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, where the pitch offered variable bounce and slower conditions than usual. KL Rahul’s fighting 112 not out off 92 balls helped India post 284/7 after a middle-order collapse saw them slip from 99/1 to 118/4.

Calm and Composed Centurion

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going

Scorecard https://t.co/x1fEenI0xl#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @klrahul pic.twitter.com/vBEcwq73fb

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2026

Shubman Gill contributed 56 off 53 balls before Kyle Jamieson’s dismissal triggered the slide that also claimed Shreyas Iyer (8) and Virat Kohli (23). The chase started cautiously, with New Zealand reaching 34/1 after the power play, losing Devon Conway to Harshit Rana.

When Henry Nicholls fell in the 13th over, the visitors stood at 46/2, giving India hope. That’s when Mitchell and Will Young took control, adding 162 runs for the third wicket off 152 balls.

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How Mitchell Dismantled India’s Bowling?

Mitchell targeted India’s spinners from the start, particularly Kuldeep Yadav, who endured a nightmare spell of 10-0-82-1. The right-hander rushed down the pitch, swept conventionally and reverse, and shuffled across his stumps to work the ball into gaps.

He smashed a six and a boundary in Kuldeep’s first over, setting the tone for what followed. Young provided solid support with 87 off 98 balls, using his feet effectively against spin and executing reverse sweeps with precision.

Together, they cruised at just above five runs an over. They were able to maintain the same level of play and never allowed the pressure to build. The match turned in the 36th over when Kuldeep had Mitchell caught by Prasidh Krishna for 80, but Krishna dropped the ball at long-on.

He capitalized ruthlessly, reaching his eighth ODI century off 96 balls before finishing unbeaten on 131 from 117 deliveries, including 11 fours and two sixes.

Why India’s Spinners Failed?

Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja, expected to be India’s wicket-taking options on a helpful surface, were completely outbowled by their New Zealand counterparts. The pair conceded 126 runs from their combined 18 overs and took just one wicket between them.

Jadeja went wicketless in his eight overs while going for 44 runs. In contrast, New Zealand’s spinners, debutant Jayden Lennox, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips, allowed just 89 runs for two wickets in 23 overs.

Lennox, called up as Mitchell Santner’s replacement, was particularly impressive with figures of 10-0-42-1 on debut. The difference wasn’t just skill but execution.

While Kuldeep repeatedly bowled short despite instructions from Rahul to flight the ball, Mitchell and Young made India’s spinners look ordinary with their clear plans. Even when Kuldeep did flight one and induced a mishit, Krishna’s drop ensured the advantage was squandered.

When the Match Slipped Away?

India’s fast bowlers created early pressure, with Harshit Rana asking questions and Mohammed Siraj generating bounce with the new ball. But once the spinners came on in the 21st over, runs flowed freely.

The middle overs, traditionally India’s strength in home conditions, became New Zealand’s launchpad instead. Kuldeep finally broke the partnership by dismissing Young in the 38th over, and Siraj trapped Mitchell lbw next ball, only for DRS to overturn the decision due to an inside edge.

Glenn Phillips then joined Mitchell to add an unbroken 44-run stand, with Phillips contributing 32 not out off 24 balls. Mitchell sealed victory in style, scooping the ball over the wicketkeeper’s head while falling backward for four.

The win marked New Zealand’s highest successful chase against India in India, their previous best being considerably lower.​

What does this mean for the Series?

The two teams are tied up at one game all; the third match is to take place on January 18, 2026, at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. For New Zealand, this would represent their first ODI series victory in India since they have had no success against the Indians in ODIs for a long time.

India has many concerns, including the depth of their spin bowlers and how consistent their middle order is. After the first ODI saw India successfully chase 301, this match exposed vulnerabilities when defending on slower surfaces.

Captain Shubman Gill admitted after the match that the team couldn’t pick up wickets in the middle overs, making it difficult despite five fielders inside the circle. Mitchell’s form against India remains exceptional; he now has three ODI centuries against them, more than against any other team, and averages 66.66 in 10 innings against the hosts.

His 162-run partnership with Young was the foundation of New Zealand’s triumph, proving that composure and clarity can overcome supposedly difficult conditions. The dropped catch, the expensive spin bowling, and another batting collapse meant India head to Indore needing answers to several problems they thought they’d solved after the opening match.

Match Scorecard

Let’s have a look at the full scorecard of both teams:

New Zealand Batting Innings

India Bowling

New Zealand Bowling

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