‘It’s definitely something,’: Daryl Mitchell reminisces 'Special' 2023 WC semifinal clash with India

Daryl Mitchell, a talented all-rounder from New Zealand, expressed his admiration for the wonderful atmosphere the fans created at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium during the 2023 World Cup semifinal match against India. India prevailed in the match but failed to win the final against Australia in Ahmedabad last month. 

3 things you need to know 

• Daryl Mitchell played a key role for New Zealand in the World Cup campaign 
• India beat New Zealand in the semifinal of the World Cup by 70 runs 
• Daryl Mitchell scored 134 runs against India in the semifinal of the World Cup 

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What did Daryl Mitchell say about the India vs New Zealand match in the World Cup semifinal? 

The New Zealand squad suffered a setback in pursuit of a daunting goal of 398, losing the match by 70 runs and therefore being eliminated from contention for the final. Despite the loss, Daryl Mitchell emphasised the importance of having his family present at the game and the unforgettable memories produced by the energetic crowd at Wankhede Stadium. Mitchell discussed the enormous presence of spectators during the semifinal in an interview with CricBlog. Daryl Mitchell said:

"That night was pretty special. I had my family there which was awesome that they were able to experience the Mumbai crowd and the noise that was created. It’s definitely something that we’ll talk about for a long time to come as a family, but, yeah, you’d much rather win games of cricket than not.”

"We’re obviously gutted to have not gone the whole way and win that tournament. I thought we were in positions to try and win those games, but at the same time, when you come up against world class teams like India in Mumbai on that night; it was a pretty special night, and the crowd and the atmosphere are things that stick with you for life that’s for sure.”

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What did Daryl Mitchell say about his spectacular innings?

Despite the Kiwis' defeat in the match, Daryl Mitchell stood out as the best performance for his team, scoring 134 runs off just 119 balls. Notably, this was his second century versus the Men in Blue in the competition, with the first coming in the league phase at Dharamshala. Mitchell conveyed his thoughts on his outstanding performance, stating:

“It’s always bittersweet when you have your own personal success but it doesn’t eventuate in a win. It’s why we play the game, to try and win games. Again, for me, I’m a competitor; I just want to get stuck in and try help us win games for our country, so that’s always the challenge.”