Late bloomer Mitchell comes shining through for defeated NZ

Daryl Mitchell lofts one v India on Wednesday. Pic/Satej Shinde

There is something about late bloomers in cricket. Think of the likes of Michael Hussey, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Robin Singh. The first thing you notice about them is their hunger for success. They know they don't have much time and therefore failure is not an option for them. The years spent in honing their craft makes them secure in their skin and they understand their own game extremely well.

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New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, whose hundred went in vain against India on Wednesday, was first picked in the T20 side at the age of 28 and at that time, nobody could have predicted that in four years' time he would become an all-format (read films, web series and theatre) batting beast and the pillar of every Blackcap side. Mitchell's Test average of 57.21 is 16.25 runs better than his first-class average. A similar pattern emerges in his ODI numbers. An average of 52.56 which exceeds his List A average by 11.83 runs per innings. The ability to lift your performance on the big stage is a rare quality that only special players possess.

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In his first ODI World Cup, Mitchell has made sure people stand up and take notice of him. A total of 552 runs in nine innings at an average of 69 and strike-rate of 111.06 with two hundreds and two fifties is exceptional. Remember, he bats at No. 4, where opportunities are few and far. But like a well-trained actor, Mitchell walks on to the set, understands the scene, and plays his part perfectly. He submits himself fully to the team's cause and never tries to be the star of the show.

As competitive and fiery as he is on a cricket field, Mitchell is the epitome of humility and humbleness off it. In every interaction, I am amazed at how grounded he is. "I don't let success get to my head and I don't let failure bring me down either. I am blessed that I get to represent my country on an international stage and try to execute the role I have been given to the best of my abilities." Genuine words from a genuine human being.

In the movie, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Pankaj Tripathi famously said, "Jo log mehnat ka saath nahi chhodte… kismat kabhi unka haath nahi chhodti." Knowing how hard Mitchell works on himself and his game, he deserves all the good things coming his way and more.