A small yet tense moment took place between Kuldeep Yadav and Daryl Mitchell during the third and final ODI between India and New Zealand at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on January 18.
Kuldeep Yadav collides with Daryl Mitchell in a tense moment during the Indore ODI
The incident unfolded on the fifth ball of the 21st over of the first innings. India’s wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was bowling to Glenn Phillips. He delivered a slower and fuller ball, and Phillips gently pushed it towards the off side, near the non-striker’s end, and called for a quick single.
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Kuldeep Yadav immediately ran towards the ball to stop the run. At the same time, New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell ran in from the non-striker’s end to complete the single. In the rush, both Kuldeep and Mitchell moved onto the same path and accidentally ran into each other near the pitch.
Because of the collision, Kuldeep Yadav could not reach the ball in time, as Mitchell and Phillips managed to complete the single. For a brief moment, the game was stopped as players looked concerned, but both Kuldeep and Mitchell were fine, and play resumed soon after.
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Following the incident, Kuldeep Yadav conceded a boundary to the New Zealand star. The wrist-spinner bowled a slow leg-spin ball that came in a little too straight and went onto Mitchell’s pads. Mitchell used the angle well and gently flicked the ball past the fielder at square leg for four runs.
Daryl Mitchell continue golden run against India
With this shot, Mitchell reached another half-century, once again showing how consistent he has been for New Zealand in the ODI cricket. It was the New Zealander’s sixth 50-plus score in his last seven innings in the 50-over format.
Additionally, Mitchell has etched his name alongside some of New Zealand’s finest batters after delivering another strong performance against India in the ODI series decider in Indore. He has now recorded four successive 50-plus scores against India in ODIs and is just one step behind Kane Williamson’s long-standing record of most consecutive 50-plus scores.
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Williamson still tops the list with five consecutive fifty-plus scores against India, achieved in 2014. Mitchell placed him second on the elite list, highlighting his growing reputation as one of New Zealand’s most dependable batters in the format.
Former New Zealand opener Glenn Turner and captain Stephen Fleming are next on the list with three consecutive 50-plus scores, achieved during the 1975–76 and 1994–95 seasons, respectively. Roger Twose also managed the same feat in 1999, while Ross Taylor joined the list in 2019–20.
Daryl Mitchell escapes run-out chance off Mohammed Siraj in Indore ODI
On the other hand, in the 25th over, Mitchell was handed a lifeline by Mohammed Siraj. The Indian pacer bowled a slower delivery that was full in length to Mitchell. The Kiwi batter pushed the ball straight back towards the bowler and tried to stay in his crease without taking a run.
Siraj quickly moved to his right after releasing the ball and threw it at the stumps in an attempt to run Mitchell out. Seeing the throw, Mitchell had to turn back in a hurry and dive to make sure he was safely inside the crease. The throw did not hit the stumps, and he escaped the risky run-out.
