New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell became the sixth New Zealand player to surpass 2,000 runs in T20 International (T20I) cricket during the third match against India at Wellington on October 27.
Mitchell scored an unbeaten 89 runs from 52 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 171.15. The innings took his career T20I tally to 2,002 runs in 107 matches and 93 innings, averaging 27.80 with a strike rate of 141.80. He has recorded nine half-centuries with a highest score of 89 not out.
The other New Zealand cricketers who have achieved the 2,000-run milestone in T20Is are Martin Guptill (3,531 runs in 122 matches, including two centuries and 20 half-centuries), Kane Williamson (2,575 runs in 93 matches with 18 half-centuries), Glenn Phillips (2,455 runs in 100 matches, with two centuries and 14 half-centuries), Tim Seifert (2,312 runs in 93 matches with 17 half-centuries) and Brendon McCullum (2,140 runs in 71 matches, including two centuries and 13 half-centuries).
In 2026, Mitchell has accumulated 328 runs in 17 T20Is and 13 innings at an average of 32.80 and a strike rate of 158.45, including one fifty. He has also performed strongly against India, scoring 1,472 runs in 40 matches and 41 innings at an average of 40.88 with four centuries and six half-centuries, with a best score of 137.
In the match, India won the toss and chose to bowl first. After Tim Seifert was dismissed for 2, Finn Allen contributed 40 runs off 25 balls, including five fours, in a second-wicket partnership of 86 runs with Daryl Mitchell. Glenn Phillips scored 17 runs from 14 balls following two consecutive half-centuries. Mitchell remained unbeaten on 89 from 52 balls, while Bevon Jacobs supported with 39 not out from 23 balls, helping New Zealand reach 198 for 3 in 20 overs.
India’s wickets were shared among Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who each took one.
During the chase, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi began aggressively, with Sooryavanshi scoring 45 runs off 19 balls, including four boundaries and four sixes, as India reached 133 runs in 7.1 overs. Despite a brief setback, Naman Dhir finished the match with an unbeaten 4 runs, securing an eight-wicket victory with 40 balls remaining, and sealing the series 3-0 in India’s favour.