Daryl Mitchell breaks rare 13-year-old record vs India; becomes 1st batter to…

Daryl Mitchell made records during India tour [Image Credits: X]

After a record-breaking series against India, New Zealand’s star batter and the world’s No. 2 ICC-ranked ODI batter, Daryl Mitchell, now holds the record for the most runs scored in a three-match ODI series against the Indian team.

The 34-year-old performed at his peak, amassing a total of 352 runs from three matches at an astonishing average of 176.00. He struck two centuries, including a top score of 184 during the series, which helped him surpass the long-standing record.

Daryl Mitchell has the most runs in a three-match ODI series against India

Ahead of the third and final ODI in Indore on January 18, Daryl Mitchell needed 128 runs to break South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock’s record. He achieved the milestone by taking a single off the second ball of the 43rd over of New Zealand’s innings.

For the uninitiated, Quinton de Kock had scored 342 runs from three matches against India back in 2013. Following him on the list is Sri Lanka’s Roy Dias, who accumulated 262 runs in a three-match ODI series against India in 1982.

Mitchell's performance in IND vs NZ ODI series

Moreover, Daryl Mitchell’s performances in the India vs New Zealand ODI series were nothing short of breathtaking. In the first ODI, Mitchell was New Zealand’s top scorer with a 71-ball 84 at the crucial number four position, after Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls were dismissed early, leaving the visitors reeling at 126 for two.

In the second ODI as well, New Zealand endured an early wicket scare. However, Mitchell held the innings together alongside Will Young and produced a commanding 117-ball 131, helping the visitors chase a target of 285 runs comfortably with seven wickets to spare.

In the third and final ODI, Mitchell’s 137, combined with Glenn Phillips’ 106, powered New Zealand to a formidable total of 337 on the Indore pitch. India fought hard in the chase but eventually fell short, getting bowled out for 296 within 46 overs.

Who has the most runs in a three-match bilateral series?

Apart from the India-specific record, Daryl also features among the batters with the most runs in a three-match bilateral ODI series overall.

His 352 runs against India rank third on the list, with Babar Azam leading at the top with 360 runs, which he scored in a dominant ODI series against the West Indies in 2016.

Shubman Gill also stands above Mitchell with 360 runs, which he scored against New Zealand in 2023.

Mitchell in red-hot form ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

While Daryl Mitchell has been at the helm of New Zealand’s batting lineup in peak form, he is also set to feature in their T20 World Cup 2026 squad alongside other power-packed batters such as Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.

The last six months in ODIs have been nothing short of spectacular for Mitchell. The proven New Zealand performer has averaged an incredible 162.2 in his last seven ODI matches, scoring 649 runs, which include three centuries and three half-centuries.

In T20Is, however, Mitchell has been slightly less consistent in terms of average, registering 26.8. Despite that, he has maintained an impressive strike rate of 152.3, scoring 134 runs in T20Is over the last six months.