Daryl Mitchell’s growing reputation as one of the most reliable overseas batters in subcontinent conditions continues to strengthen, and the New Zealand star believes the foundation of his success lies far away from the spotlight — at New Zealand Cricket’s specially designed pitch marquee facility in Lincoln. The 34-year-old, who is currently just one rating point behind Virat Kohli in the ICC ODI batting rankings, has produced a stunning run of scores against India at home, underlining his mastery against spin.

Mitchell’s recent numbers tell a remarkable story. Scores of 130, 134, 84, and an unbeaten 131 highlight his dominance in challenging conditions. His latest effort came on Wednesday, when he struck a composed 131 not out off 117 balls to guide New Zealand to a seven-wicket win in the second ODI, levelling the series against India.

Speaking after the match, Daryl Mitchell revealed the extent of preparation that has gone into his subcontinent success. “There have been many mornings in the marquee down in the South Island at Lincoln, batting on dusty, prepared wickets and putting game plans together for this part of the world,” he said. The Lincoln facility allows New Zealand players to replicate Asian surfaces and train through the winter, offering a significant edge when touring spin-friendly regions.

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Daryl Mitchell emphasized that much of this work goes unnoticed. “That’s the stuff people don’t see. It happens away from the cameras, but it’s incredibly satisfying when it comes together. I love playing for New Zealand, travelling the world, and competing across formats,” he added.

The results have been outstanding. Mitchell has scored 1,457 ODI runs at an average of 56.03, including five centuries. In India alone, he has amassed 801 runs from 15 matches at an average of 66.75, with three hundreds and three fifties. In Pakistan, he has added 576 runs at an average of 48, further reinforcing his adaptability in subcontinent conditions.

Daryl Mitchell opens up on the preparation behind his dominance in India after another match-winning century 🇳🇿🏏#DarylMitchell #INDvsNZ #ODICricket #NZCrickethttps://t.co/9Ss1NOk5gZ

— The Cricket Scores (@cricketscores25) January 15, 2026

Reflecting on his evolution, Daryl Mitchell explained how adapting his technique has been key. “We grow up in New Zealand playing on bouncy, green wickets. International cricket forces you to evolve. I’ve learned to use my feet, sweep effectively, and play deeper in the crease to put bowlers under pressure. It’s been a learning process over several years.”

Mitchell also praised KL Rahul’s resilient 112 not out, acknowledging how the Indian batter anchored the innings under pressure. “He absorbed the pressure really well and finished strongly,” Mitchell noted.

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During New Zealand’s chase, Mitchell combined with Will Young for a match-defining 162-run partnership. “I love batting with Youngy. He handled the new ball superbly and kept things ticking,” he said.

While Indian spinners had an off day, Mitchell was quick to back their quality, calling Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja world-class bowlers capable of bouncing back strongly in the remaining matches.