Cricket is a funny game. One day you’re watching Virat Kohli smash records, and the next, you're wondering how on earth a 280-plus total felt so flimsy. If you caught the cricket score of india new zealand recently, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The second ODI in Rajkot was a wake-up call, a cold bucket of water over a team that felt just a bit too comfortable on home soil.
Honestly, Rajkot usually favors the side batting first. History said so. The stats said so. But Daryl Mitchell didn't care about the history books.
The Daryl Mitchell Show and a Reality Check for India
New Zealand leveled the series 1-1, and they did it with clinical, almost surgical, precision. Chasing down 285 in India isn't supposed to look that easy. Yet, the Kiwis crossed the line with 15 balls to spare. Seven wickets in hand. It was a proper thumping.
Daryl Mitchell was the architect, finishing with a massive 131 not out off 117 balls. You’ve got to hand it to him; the guy has become a thorn in India's side. He didn't just slog; he used the sweep and the reverse-sweep to basically dismantle India’s spin twins. When Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja can't find a breakthrough on a gripping surface, you know the bowling unit is in a bit of a spot.
The Scorecard That Doesn't Tell the Full Story
On paper, India’s 284 for 7 looked competitive. KL Rahul was the hero with the bat, dragging India out of a massive hole. He finished on 112 not out, playing a lonely hand after the top order crumbled.
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Here is how the main numbers shook out:
- India: 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112*, Shubman Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3/56)
- New Zealand: 286/3 in 47.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 131*, Will Young 87; Kuldeep Yadav 1/82)
The collapse from 99/1 to 118/4 was where the game shifted. Rohit Sharma fell for 24, and while Shubman Gill looked classy for his 56, he threw it away to a mistimed pull. Then came the big one. Virat Kohli, who had just passed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the fastest to 28,000 international runs in the previous match, was cleaned up for 23. It felt like the air left the stadium.
Why India’s Spin Strategy is Under Fire
The most worrying part of the cricket score of india new zealand isn't the loss itself—it’s how it happened. For years, India has dominated at home because visiting batters couldn't handle the turn.
In Rajkot, the script flipped.
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New Zealand’s spinners, including debutant Jayden Lennox, were incredibly disciplined. Lennox finished with 1/42 from his 10 overs. Compare that to Kuldeep Yadav, who went for 82 runs in his quota. Even the legendary Irfan Pathan took to his YouTube channel to point out that India’s spinners were out-bowled on their own turf. He was particularly critical of Ravindra Jadeja, noting that a strike rate of 60 during his 27-run knock put way too much pressure on KL Rahul.
The "Dolly" That Cost the Match
If you want to pin the loss on a single moment, look at the 36th over. Daryl Mitchell was on 80. He mistimed a shot toward long-on, and Prasidh Krishna—usually a safe pair of hands—dropped a total sitter. It was a "dolly" in every sense of the word. Mitchell didn't look back, scoring 51 more runs after that reprieve to seal the game.
Fielding lapses like that are becoming a recurring theme. Captain Shubman Gill admitted as much in the post-match presentation, sounding visibly frustrated. You can’t give world-class players a second life and expect to win.
What This Means for the Series Decider in Indore
The series now moves to Indore for the final ODI on Sunday, January 18. The pressure is immense. Indore is known for its small boundaries and high scores. Basically, it's a graveyard for bowlers.
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If India wants to avoid a historic bilateral series loss at home, they have some serious thinking to do:
- Middle-Order Momentum: Can Shreyas Iyer and the middle order provide support so Rahul doesn't have to do everything?
- Spin Variance: Kuldeep and Jadeja need to find a way to stop Daryl Mitchell from sweeping them out of the attack.
- Fielding Discipline: No more dropped sitters. Period.
New Zealand has never won a bilateral ODI series in India. They are one win away from changing that forever. For the Indian team, it’s about more than just the trophy; it’s about re-establishing that home-ground dominance that has felt a bit shaky lately.
Keep a close eye on the team news for Indore. With Washington Sundar out due to injury and Nitish Kumar Reddy stepping in, the balance of the playing XI is still a work in progress. Expect a high-scoring thriller where the toss might just decide the fate of the series.
Actionable Insights for Cricket Fans:
- Monitor the Pitch Report: Indore’s Holkar Stadium is notoriously small. If India wins the toss, expect them to chase, as the dew factor often makes bowling second a nightmare.
- Watch the Matchups: Keep an eye on how Kuldeep Yadav starts his first two overs against Daryl Mitchell. If he doesn't adjust his length early, Mitchell will dominate the middle overs again.
- Check Team Updates: Watch for news on Shreyas Iyer and the bowling lineup. After the Rajkot performance, a tactical change in the pace department (perhaps more variety from Harshit Rana) could be on the cards.