Daryl Mitchell has slipped back in front of Virat Kohli at the top of the ICC men’s ODI batting list after a prolific three-match series in India, one that delivered 352 runs, two rapid-fire hundreds and New Zealand’s first bilateral ODI win on Indian soil.
Mitchell’s 131* in Rajkot and 137 in Indore – both struck at better than a run a ball – took him to 845 rating points, 50 clear of Kohli’s 795. Seven days ago the gap had been one point in the other direction.
“It’s always nice when the hard work shows up on the scoreboard,” Mitchell said during the presentation in Indore. “But the real buzz is winning a series here – not many New Zealand sides have done that.”
Former India quick Varun Aaron told ESPNcricinfo: “Mitchell just doesn’t get flustered. His ability to hit straight makes even a good length disappear.”
Speed of centuries
Sunday’s ton was Mitchell’s ninth in only 54 ODI innings, the fourth-fastest in history. Only Imam-ul-Haq (48), Hashim Amla (52) and Quinton de Kock (53) have reached nine quicker. His 352-run haul is the highest ever by a New Zealander in a three-match series and the third-highest overall, behind Babar Azam and Shubman Gill (both 360).
Kohli, meanwhile, produced 93, 23 and 124 across the series, enough to move past Rohit Sharma last week but not to keep Mitchell at bay. A modest second-match return proved decisive in the latest update.
The chasers
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran (764 points), Rohit (757) and Gill (723) round out the current top five. Glenn Phillips has jumped from 36th to 20th after his 106 off 88 balls in Indore – an innings that featured a 219-run partnership with Mitchell and helped New Zealand seal the decider by 41 runs.
“Glenn took a lot of pressure off me,” Mitchell noted. “He was striking it miles, so I just tried to stay in my own lane.”
Key numbers
• Mitchell: 845 points, up from 784 last week
• Kohli: 795 points, down from 785
• Phillips: career-high 20th spot
• New Zealand: first ODI series win in India
Context for casual fans
ICC rating points are a rolling measure of recent form; the most recent innings carry the greatest weight. A 50-point swing in a single week is rare, underlining just how dominant Mitchell was.
Rohit conceded India had been “out-batted in crucial phases” – particularly in the middle overs where Mitchell scored 174 of his 268 runs. Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey added, “He didn’t give us a window. Even our best balls disappeared.”
Looking ahead
New Zealand head to South Africa next month, Mitchell eager to “cash in on the rhythm”. India, still without a confirmed head coach, have a short turnaround before hosting England.
Whether Mitchell’s lead survives those tours is an open question, but for now the 32-year-old sits alone at the summit, a position he last held – briefly – in November.
“Rankings come and go,” he said with a shrug, “though it’s a decent bit of personal satisfaction while it lasts.”
