INDORE, India — Daryl Mitchell scored a career-best 137 to guide New Zealand to a two-run series victory over India in the third and final one-day international, completing a 2-1 series win on Sunday.
Mitchell's innings was highlighted by an aggressive approach against India's premier middle-overs spinner Kuldeep Yadav. On the first ball of Kuldeep's spell, Mitchell dispatched a googly over long-off for six. Kuldeep, wary of short boundaries in play in Indore, steered away from his good-length line and was removed after just three overs. He was not reintroduced until the 38th over, effectively neutralizing India's most potent middle-overs weapon.
New Zealand, chasing a target, built their platform through Mitchell's counter-attacking knock. His strike rate against Kuldeep since April 2023 stands at 117, and he continued that dominance in the decider. The win gives New Zealand the series edge after India took the first two ODIs. Kuldeep's early exit and subsequent omission from the middle overs proved costly as Mitchell anchored the chase with an unbeaten 137, his highest score in ODIs.
