Daryl Mitchell's century and New Zealand's win in second ODI showed that India's bowling plan needs more options. Images: AP/PTI
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Firstpost15-01-2026, 10:59

Daryl Mitchell Exposes India's Middle-Overs Bowling Weakness in Rajkot Defeat

  • Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 131 guided New Zealand to a clinical run-chase victory against India in Rajkot, mirroring Virat Kohli's chase manual.
  • India's middle-overs bowling struggled, with key spinner Kuldeep Yadav conceding 82 runs and others failing to provide penetration.
  • The defeat highlighted India's over-reliance on Kuldeep and a lack of a Plan B when he has an off-day, a concern for World Cup preparations.
  • Concerns arise over the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah and the consistency of other pacers like Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna.
  • The loss serves as a wake-up call for India regarding their bowling depth and ability to create wicket-taking opportunities consistently.

Why It Matters: Daryl Mitchell's masterclass exposed India's middle-overs bowling frailties and over-reliance on Kuldeep Yadav.

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