Mitchell Steals the Show as New Zealand Levels ODI Series Against India

Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 131 overshadowed KL Rahul's fighting century, helping New Zealand level the ODI series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win over India.

Mitchell and Will Young shared a 162-run partnership, with Mitchell showcasing his range of shots, including multiple sweep shots, to notch his third ODI hundred against India. India's spinners struggled, with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja conceding 126 runs from 18 overs. The series decider will be played in Indore on Sunday.

Rajkot witnessed a thrilling turnaround! The pitch picked up pace in the evening, and Mitchell's masterful knock, along with Young's support, led New Zealand to a convincing chase. KL Rahul's century was a highlight, but Mitchell's eighth ODI ton stole the show.

India's batting lineup needs a boost, and experimenting with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel at Nos 6 and 7 might be the way to go. Jadeja's gritty 27 off 44 showed his determination, but India's power-hitting was lacking.

KL Rahul's 112 off 92 was a highlight, with some beautiful shots on display. The contrast in spin strategies was stark – India played just one sweep against New Zealand's 13, which yielded 23 runs.

The new Rajkot stadium saw its first successful chase in five ODIs, setting the stage for a decider in Indore . Shubman Gill's promising start was overshadowed by India's early loss of Rohit Sharma, but the match's momentum kept shifting.

New Zealand 286 for 3 (Mitchell 131*, Young 87, Prasidh 1-49) beat India 284 for 7 (Rahul 112*, Gill 56, Clarke 3-56) by seven wickets