There seems to be something about playing India that brings out the very best inDaryl Mitchell. Calm, composed and ruthless once set, the New Zealand batter delivered yet another commanding performance against India, scoring an unbeaten 131 in the second ODI at Rajkot to level the three-match series 1–1.

Mitchell’s knock was his eighth ODI century and came off just 96 balls, as New Zealand chased down India’s target with seven wickets in hand. On a surface where most batters struggled for fluency, Mitchell’s clarity of shot selection and ability to control the tempo stripped the chase of any real tension.

The Rajkot innings only added to a pattern India can no longer ignore. Mitchell has now piled up604 runs against India in just 12 ODIs at an average of 67.11, underlining his remarkable dominance against one of the strongest bowling attacks in world cricket. Earlier in the series, he had already shown his comfort with a fluent 84 in Vadodara.

Mitchell’s recent record against India makes for uncomfortable reading: scores of130, 134, 63, 84 and 131* in his last few encounters highlight a level of consistency that borders on inevitability. He has scored eight ODI centuries overall, six of them overseas, and boasts the best ODI average in Asia among New Zealand batters with multiple innings.

His comfort in Indian conditions was evident during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as well, where he finished among the tournament’s top run-getters and struck two centuries against India in the space of three weeks.

What made Rajkot different was the result. In the past, Mitchell’s big scores against India often came in losing causes. This time, New Zealand ensured his effort translated into a victory. India’s missed chances in the field — including dropped catches and run-out opportunities — allowed Mitchell to settle, and as so often happens, he made them pay heavily.

After receiving the Player of the Match award, Mitchell stressed the importance of the team result. He said it was satisfying to finally secure a win in India after years of near-misses and reiterated his enjoyment of performing for New Zealand.

For India, Mitchell is no longer just a batter in good form. He has become a recurring problem, particularly on Asian pitches. The final ODI in Indore now presents captain Shubman Gill and his team with a familiar challenge: finding a way to neutralise a player who continues to turn performances against India into a personal habit.