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There was a dramatic moment at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on January 18 when Virat Kohli and Daryl Mitchell made enthusiastic gestures after New Zealand star Daryl Mitchell’s brilliant knock finally ended in the final of the three-match ODI series against India on January 18.
Mohammed Siraj scores breakthrough, Kuldeep Yadav seals victory, Daryl Mitchell’s dream series finally over
The moment began when Mohammed Siraj bowled a slower chipper that cut into the pitch. Mitchell tried a big pull, but the timing wasn’t right. The ball flies off the top edge and flies high towards deep square leg behind.
Kuldeep Yadav ran in from the boundary and, despite the bright sunshine, kept his eyes on the ball and took a brilliant catch low to give India a late but important breakthrough.
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Virat Kohli’s tepid push against Daryl Mitchell raises eyebrows in Indore
The catch ended Mitchell’s brilliant performance of 137 runs off 131 balls against India, which included 15 fours and 3 sixes. It also kicked off a remarkable ODI series in which Mitchell smashed consecutive hundreds against India.
When Daryl Mitchell walked back, Virat Kohli walked near the boundary rope, applauded his efforts and gently pushed him over the rope in a friendly and respectful gesture. The move immediately caught the attention of fans inside the stadium and the moment went viral on social media.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) January 18, 2026
Mitchell’s record-breaking run
Daryl Mitchell, meanwhile, has taken complete control of India in the ongoing three-match ODI series and rewritten New Zealand’s record books in the process. The right-handed batsman scored 352 runs and became the highest scorer by a New Zealand player in the three-match ODI bilateral series.
The 34-year-old has also made it into New Zealand’s elite list. His 137 in Indore became the fourth-highest individual score by a New Zealand batsman against India in the 50-over format. In Auckland 2022, Tom Latham remains at the top of the list with an unbeaten 145 runs.
Michael Bracewell hit 140 in Hyderabad in 2023 and Devon Conway hit 138 in Indore in 2023. Mitchell has dominated the charts with several big scores against India. Before Indore, he had shot 134 at Wankhede in 2023, 131* at Rajkot in 2026 and 130 at Dharamshala.
Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell create history against India in Indore
On the other hand, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell put together a brilliant partnership of 219 runs for just 186 balls for the fourth wicket in the ODI series decider against India in Indore. The stand currently stands as the second-highest run tally at fourth or lower in an ODI against India, after Auckland’s Kane Williamson-Tom Latham partnership of 221* runs in 2022.
What makes this stand even more special is that this is the first time two New Zealand batsmen have scored hundreds in the same ODI innings against India. Additionally, this is New Zealand’s second largest partnership with India.
The record for the highest partnership still belongs to Tom Latham and Kane Williamson, who scored 221 runs in the 2022 Auckland match. Other big stands include Latham and Ross Taylor’s 200-run partnership at the Wankhede in 2017, and Scott Styris and Taylor’s 190-run stand at Dambulla in 2010.
