Live match blog – India vs New Zealand 1st Semi-Final 2023/24 – Cricket Insights

Daryl Mitchell opened the batting and took New Zealand to the T20 World Cup final in 2021

He has taken over the No. 4 spot in the ODI side and has made sure NZ haven’t felt the loss of Ross Taylor at all. Which is a pretty big feat on its own. Taylor is an all-time Black Cap great.

In some ways, Mitchell may be this team’s most important batter.

Kane Williamson is the rock at No. 3. Most oppositions will value his wicket high. But they’ll also know they can manage the amount of damage he can inflict simply because he is so orthodox.

Mitchell isn’t that easy to manage. He’s already got a century against India in this World Cup. He’s brilliant against pace and he holds absolutely nothing back against spin, unafraid to run at them, and skillful enough to sweep them any which way. He’s also calculated, often targeting bowlers in the first ball of the over so that for the rest of it, they’re left second-guessing themselves.

NZ are 87 for 2 after 15 overs. This is around the time the ball stops moving for the quicks; also around the time when dew usually comes in – it hasn’t so far. The required rate is 8.88. A chase like this will be tough in any circumstances let alone in a World Cup semi-final against the tournament’s best bowling attack.