"Bunch Of Kiwis Against The World": Daryl Mitchell Reflects on Series Win Against India
Mitchell described the team’s spirit, saying, "We're just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world, having fun and trying to win games for our country. Hopefully, we can just keep chipping away like Kiwis do and we'll see what happens over the next few days."
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell expressed his team's satisfaction after making history by becoming the first side to defeat India in a Test series on Indian soil in 12 years. Following the opening day's play in the third Test, Mitchell remarked that the match was "evenly poised" despite India's collapse, which left them in a precarious position.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand managed to set a total of 235 runs, with Mitchell leading the charge by scoring 82. However, the hosts struggled in their response, losing wickets rapidly and finishing the day at 86 for four, still trailing by 149 runs. "We put a total on the board and hopefully now we can take a few more wickets. We'll see what happens tomorrow," he told the media after play concluded.
Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar made significant contributions with the ball, claiming nine wickets between them on the first day, taking advantage of a pitch that offered substantial assistance to spin bowling. Mitchell acknowledged that New Zealand had anticipated such conditions, stating, "It's the nature of red soil here in this part of the world. It's going to have a bit of bounce and a little bit of turn. We knew what we were expecting when we showed up this morning."
Reflecting on New Zealand's performance, Mitchell expressed pride in the team's resilience and determination, especially given the challenging weather conditions. "It was pretty warm out there. The humidity was pretty sticky and there wasn't a lot of breeze. Us Kiwis, coming from down in the middle of winter back home, it's always a good challenge," he noted.
Mitchell described the team’s spirit, saying, "We're just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world, having fun and trying to win games for our country. Hopefully, we can just keep chipping away like Kiwis do and we'll see what happens over the next few days."
He also highlighted the brief partnership between Indian batsmen Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, which offered hope for India before their batting order collapsed. Jaiswal and Gill added 53 runs for the second wicket, but Jaiswal's dismissal, attempting a reverse sweep, triggered a series of losses for the hosts. "That's the nature of Test cricket. There's always ebbs and flows throughout days. We were lucky to build some pressure. There was a nice partnership going there between Shubman and Jaiswal. I thought they played really well," Mitchell remarked, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the game.
With the series win against India within reach, New Zealand looks to continue their strong form and make further history in the coming days.
