Daryl Mitchell’s 352-run haul in that three-match series, which included scores of 84, 131 not out and 137, earned him the Player of the Series award and propelled him to the summit of the ODI rankings.
Mitchell’s peak rating of 845 points represented the second-highest tally ever recorded by a New Zealand ODI batter, with only Glenn Turner’s 854 points from 1983 standing higher in the nation’s history. However, his grip on the number one ranking proved temporary. Shubman Gill reclaimed the top position in July 2026 following New Zealand’s recent ODI series against the West Indies, during which Mitchell’s absence from international cricket allowed his rating points to decline slightly.
“It’s probably not something you really think about while you’re playing — for me, it’s trying to help us win games of cricket. So it’s nice, obviously — it means you’re helping put your team in some pretty good situations to win those games, and getting recognition for that. But at the same time, I just love trying to help us win games of cricket for our country,” Mitchell to The Cricket News.
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Mitchell’s commitment to team success over individual rankings
While he continues to trail Gill in the ODI rankings, it is unlikely to be a distraction for a team-oriented player like Mitchell, who has already turned his attention to the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“There’s an ODI World Cup coming up in about 12 months now, and that’s something we’re really building up for and looking forward to. For me, it’s just about continuing to enjoy the experiences we get as a group. I’m very proud to represent my country across all three formats — there aren’t many guys in world cricket now who get that opportunity,” said Mitchell.
“I’m sure there’s a couple of things we’d like to tick off, as a group and personally as well, and hopefully we get to do that over the next few years. But what will be, will be, in terms of that. we’re going to work seriously hard to try and achieve some of them, and we’ll give it a good crack,” he added.
Mitchell’s career statistics underscore his consistency at the highest level. In 62 ODI appearances, he has accumulated 2,811 runs at an average of 57.36, including nine centuries and 13 half-centuries. By comparison, Gill has featured in 67 ODIs and scored 3,379 runs at an average of 60.33, with nine centuries to his name. Both batters have established themselves as key figures in their respective teams’ middle-order construction.
