NEW DELHI: Ibrahim Zadran has been appointed the new T20I captain of the Afghanistan national cricket team for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka national cricket team. The decision was announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board after the team’s disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where Afghanistan were eliminated in the league stage. Zadran replaces star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who previously led the team in the format.

Zadran had been serving as vice-captain and now steps into the leadership role as part of broader changes within the team following the tournament. Explaining the decision, chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said, “Rashid Khan’s tenure as the T20I captain brought immense success to the team, particularly highlighted by the team’s remarkable journey in the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup, where we reached the semi-finals.”He added that the move is part of a long-term plan for the team’s future. “In alignment with the ACB’s long-term strategic vision and following recent changes in our Team Management, including the appointment of a new head coach, we have made the thoughtful decision to transition the leadership within the T20I setup,” he continued.“Ibrahim Zadran, who has served as Rashid Khan’s deputy, will assume the role as Afghanistan’s regular captain in this format. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rashid Khan for his valuable contributions and wish Ibrahim Zadran every success in this important new role.”The squad has also seen several changes, with players like Fazal Haq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Ishaq left out. Meanwhile, new names such as Noor Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Fareed Ahmad have been included in the T20I squad.“In addition, our long-term goal is to adequately prepare the team for the upcoming two World Cup events,” he remarked. “We are hopeful that, under this new leadership, the National Team will not only flourish but also showcase outstanding performances and build a strong and competitive bench strength for the crucial challenges that lie ahead.”Meanwhile, the ACB said it is monitoring the regional situation due to the Israel–Iran conflict. The board added, “Although a final decision will be made in a couple of days, the ACB’s initial approach, in coordination with the ECB and venue authorities, is to proceed with the originally scheduled dates. Should circumstances necessitate a change, the ACB will consider exploring alternative options for both the host country and the event schedule.”

From MS Dhoni to Yuvraj Singh: Cricket’s biggest names attend Arjun Tendulkar’s wedding (Photo- X)

The wedding of Arjun Tendulkar, son of legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar, turned into a grand gathering of cricket’s biggest names as several stalwarts from across generations arrived in Mumbai on Thursday to celebrate the occasion.Among the most prominent guests was former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who attended the ceremony with his wife Sakshi Dhoni. Former India all rounder Suresh Raina was also present at the celebrations alongside his wife Priyanka Raina.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir made an appearance at the wedding with his wife Natasha Jain Gambhir, just hours before India’s T20 World Cup semifinal against England cricket team.The guest list also featured several key administrators and cricket officials. Jay Shah, chairman of the International Cricket Council, was among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri arrived with his family, while Rajiv Shukla, vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, was also present.Former India captain and ex head coach Rahul Dravid, who guided India to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title, attended the ceremony with his wife. Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle was also among the notable guests.Several former India cricketers marked their presence at the celebration. These included Kiran More, Venkatesh Prasad, Ajit Agarkar, who currently serves as India’s chief selector, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. Current India batter Ajinkya Rahane and former opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra were also present along with their spouses.Former World Cup winning all rounder Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan also joined the celebrations, adding further star power to the gathering of Indian cricket personalities.Arjun tied the knot with Saaniya Chandhok, who comes from a prominent business background. She is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group, and has shared a close bond with the Tendulkar family for several years, especially with Arjun’s sister Sara Tendulkar.The 26 year old left arm pacer has played five matches in the Indian Premier League, picking up three wickets during his stint with Mumbai Indians. He was first bought by the franchise in the 2021 mini auction and eventually made his IPL debut in the 2023 season.Arjun later continued with Mumbai Indians across multiple seasons before being traded to Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. He is set to represent the franchise in the upcoming season.Currently playing domestic cricket for the Goa cricket team after making his debut for the Mumbai cricket team in 2021, Arjun now begins a new chapter in his personal life with a wedding that brought together some of the biggest names in Indian cricket.

Pakistan cricket team (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage has pushed the team into another period of uncertainty. Led by captain Salman Ali Agha, the side delivered disappointing performances and suffered heavy defeats against archrivals India and England. Because of the poor campaign, reports say players could face heavy fines and the captain’s position might also be under threat, while discussions about possible changes in the coaching setup have begun.

Amid the fallout, a report by Geo Super claimed that tensions inside the dressing room grew during the tournament, with several players unhappy with head coach Mike Hesson’s way of running the team. According to the report, some players directly raised their concerns with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials while the tournament was still going on.“During the tournament, several Pakistan players are said to have individually approached PCB officials to complain about the coach’s behaviour,” the report stated.Sources quoted in the report said Hesson’s strict style and the way he made decisions without discussing them with players created discomfort in the team environment. “Insiders allege that his rigid approach and decisions taken without consultation unsettled the dressing room. It is further claimed that key matters were decided without consulting the captain, with Hesson frequently intervening in all aspects of team management,” it added.PCB officials are now reviewing what happened during the tournament and examining Hesson’s conduct before deciding the next steps. “Senior officials are currently reviewing his conduct with the squad and are expected to examine the tour report before holding detailed discussions with the coach,” the report stated.The report also suggested that neither the selection panel nor captain Salman Ali Agha felt able to challenge Hesson’s authority during the World Cup.It continued, “Well-placed sources claim that both the selection panel and captain Salman Ali Agha were unable to challenge Hesson’s authority, with the coach reportedly exercising sweeping control over team affairs.”However, despite the controversy, Hesson may still keep his job because he recently signed a long-term deal. “Hesson is understood to have signed a two-year contract with the PCB, and the board remains committed to maintaining stability in the head coach’s role,” the report concluded.

NEW DELHI: Explosive opener Finn Allen credited New Zealand’s recent tour of India as a key factor behind their clinical run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after smashing a record-breaking century to power the Kiwis into the final.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Allen produced one of the most destructive knocks in World Cup history, blasting an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls as New Zealand chased down a tricky 170 against South Africa in only 12.5 overs at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The nine-wicket victory sealed New Zealand’s place in the final in emphatic fashion.

Speaking after the match, Allen highlighted how a five-match series against India before the tournament helped the visitors adapt to the demanding black-soil surfaces used during the World Cup.“It just shows the importance of that India series the boys played before the World Cup. Five games on black soil… you can’t replicate that kind of preparation,” Allen said. “We learnt a lot as a group. As a team, we get up for the fight. In those important games we’re prepared to scrap and stay in it till the end.”Allen also praised the New Zealand bowlers for setting up the victory after early breakthroughs dented South Africa’s momentum. “It was an extremely impressive start from our bowlers — they set the game up for us, for sure. On a surface like that, if you can take wickets up front and build pressure, it makes life a lot easier for the batters.”The right-hander added that the recent experience of playing in India gave him a better understanding of the conditions. “Having had that last game against India on black soil gave me a proper look at what to expect. That was really helpful coming into this one,” he said.Allen also reserved special praise for opening partner Tim Seifert, who hammered a 33-ball 58 in a blistering stand that effectively ended the contest inside the powerplay.“He just kept dealing in boundaries… he’s been doing that all tournament. He’s in incredible form. It’s good fun batting with Timmy when he’s in that mood,” Allen said.Looking ahead to the final, Allen urged fans back home to rally behind the team. “Finals are special… you don’t get too many chances at them. Hopefully everyone gets behind us for Sunday.”

South Africa players during the first T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal in Kolkata. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: South Africa’s dream run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 came to a crashing halt on Wednesday night as New Zealand handed them a crushing nine-wicket defeat in the semifinal. And head coach Shukri Conrad did not hold back while describing what unfolded.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking after the match, Conrad dismissed suggestions that South Africa had “choked” under pressure — a tag that has followed them in global tournaments for decades.“I don’t know if tonight was a choke. I thought it was a bloody walloping,” Conrad said bluntly. “In order for you to choke, you must have had a sniff in the game. We didn’t have a sniff.”

Chasing a competitive 170, New Zealand made a mockery of the target. Opener Finn Allen produced a historic assault, smashing an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls — the fastest century in the tournament’s history — while Tim Seifert hammered a 33-ball 58. The chase was wrapped up in just 12.5 overs, leaving South Africa stunned.Conrad even dipped into his native Afrikaans to sum up the scale of the defeat.“Tonight we got a proper ‘snotklap’,” he said. “That’s an Afrikaans word for a real hiding, a smack you don’t see coming. That’s what it felt like.”Earlier, New Zealand’s bowlers had laid the platform. Cole McConchie struck twice in the second over, removing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in consecutive deliveries. Spinners then tightened the screws as South Africa’s middle order — including Aiden Markram, David Miller and Dewald Brevis — failed to gain momentum.A late counterattack from Marco Jansen, who smashed an unbeaten 55 off 30 balls, and Tristan Stubbs helped South Africa reach 169, but the total proved nowhere near enough.“They strangled us up front and we never got any momentum,” Conrad admitted. “A hell of a lot didn’t go right tonight — but that was probably enforced because they were so good.”Despite the heavy defeat, Conrad said he remained proud of his team, who entered the semifinal as the tournament’s only unbeaten side with seven consecutive wins.“I thought we did some exceptional stuff throughout the tournament,” he said. “Not many people gave us a chance of making the semifinals when we left home. I’m incredibly proud of these guys — even if that’s no consolation right now.”

Suryakumar Yadav (R) with Tilak Varma during a practice session. (Getty Images)

MUMBAI: India and England will clash in their third consecutive T20 World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday night. Both sides have one win each in their previous knockout meetings, with the victor on both occasions going on to lift the trophy.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!England thrashed India by 10 wickets in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal, chasing 170 with openers Alex Hales (86 not out) and Jos Buttler (80 not out) dominating on a flat Adelaide pitch. Two years later in Providence, India avenged that defeat with a 68-run victory as spinners Kuldeep Yadav (3-19) and Axar Patel (3-28) bowled England out for 103 in 16.4 overs.

India had beaten England 4-1 in a five-match T20I series last January, sealing it with a 150-run win at the Wankhede. However, the stakes are much higher in a World Cup semifinal.Both teams enter the match with confidence, though England appear to have greater momentum after winning all three of their Super 8 matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand. India, meanwhile, will be looking to defy history — no defending champion has retained the T20 World Cup and no host nation has won the title. In fact, no defending champion has even reached the final in the subsequent edition.India topped Group A alongside Pakistan and associate teams, winning all four league matches. However, their batting has looked vulnerable on slower pitches against spin. That was evident during a collapse against the United States at Wankhede, where the hosts slumped to 77-6 before captain Suryakumar Yadav rescued them with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls.

England began their campaign with a narrow four-run win over Nepal at Wankhede, with Sam Curran defending 10 runs in the final over and Will Jacks producing a fine all-round effort.They later lost to the West Indies by 30 runs at the same venue, where Sherfane Rutherford smashed 76 not out off 42 balls and the Caribbean spinners stifled England’s batting.India’s Super 8 campaign started with a 76-run loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad. They bounced back by thrashing Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Chennai after posting 256 for four, and then beat the West Indies by five wickets at Eden Gardens, powered by Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 off 50 balls and Jasprit Bumrah’s double strike.England, meanwhile, began the Super 8s with a 51-run win over Sri Lanka, bowling them out for 95. They followed it up with a twowicket victory against Pakistan, highlighted by captain Harry Brook’s blistering 100 off 51 balls and Liam Dawson’s 3-24. England sealed a semifinal berth with a four-wicket win over New Zealand.

Samson has been among India’s most consistent batters, in sharp contrast to opening partner Abhishek Sharma, who has managed just 80 runs in six matches at an average of 13.33, including three ducks.His fifty against Zimbabwe remains his only significant contribution. The left-hander will hope to rediscover his touch at a venue where he once smashed 135 off 54 balls.England too have concerns over their openers. Buttler has scored just 62 runs in seven matches at an average of 8.85, while Phil Salt has struggled for consistency apart from a 62 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Samson, who has struggled against short-pitched bowling, and the out-of-form Abhishek could face a stern test from Jofra Archer in the powerplay.However, Archer too has found Wankhede unforgiving, returning figures of 1-42 against Nepal and 1-48 against the West Indies.Ishan Kishan has been quiet after a match-winning 77 off 40 balls against Pakistan in Colombo. However, he, along with Surya, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya — all former Mumbai Indians players — will be familiar with the Wankhede conditions.Tilak looked more comfortable after moving from No. 3 to No. 6, scoring 44 not out off 16 balls against Zimbabwe and 27 off 15 against West Indies.India’s vulnerability against spin could again be tested by England’s attack comprising Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed and off-spinning allrounder Will Jacks. India will counter with Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, though Varun has struggled for rhythm — a far cry from last year’s bilateral series against England when he claimed 14 wickets in five matches at an average of 9.85.

Varun Chakaravarthy (Getty Images)

MUMBAI: Wednesday’s nets session was an optional one, but Varun Chakravarthy was out there, alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel, slogging it out in searing heat.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The focus throughout the session, and during the mammoth one that India put in on Tuesday evening, was on the length he needs to hit against England in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Varun started the T20 World Cup campaign with a bang, ending the four-match group stage with nine wickets at a strike rate of 8. But in the Super Eights, while bowling against stronger opponents, he was found somewhat wanting. In the three games, he took just two wickets at a strike-rate of 24 and conceded 10.16 runs per over, which is much higher than his career economy rate of 7.23. He finished with figures of 1/47 against South Africa, 1/35 against Zimbabwe and 1/40 against West Indies.Against South Africa, David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs showed the courage to take on the mystery spinner. As a result, he erred in his line and length—bowling a bit short or fuller when put under pressure—which brought him into the batters’ arc to hit him down the ground or either side of the wicket. The story repeated against the West Indies in the last match at the Eden Gardens, with Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder going after the Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinner. When the batters took him on, they curtailed his ability to apply the squeeze in the middle overs and take wickets to keep the opponents on the mat.

Varun is still among the top-five wicket-takers in this edition with 12 scalps, but teams seem to have dissected his variations, especially the googly, which has been his go-to delivery to take wickets. Almost 75% of his wickets in T20Is have come with the googly. When he has bowled the googly at pace, rival batters have played him as an incoming bowler and tried to hit him straighter. When he has got one to turn away, batters have backed themselves and adjusted.With the likes of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks in their ranks, England will take a cue from Varun’s outings against South Africa and West Indies, make use of the shorter boundaries and put the 34-year-old under pressure.During the media interaction, Morkel revealed that discussions with Varun centred around getting “clarity” of his plans a day ahead of the match and “allowing him to walk away feeling good about his body”.“With the variations that Varun’s got, he’s got the ability to take a wicket with almost every ball. So, the discussion was that if he goes for a boundary, the aim is to move on to the next one and make sure he commits to that next ball. He’s hard to pick once you walk into the crease. So, for him it’s just about getting that confidence into the ball, getting his speed, his length and control right,” said Morkel.

Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on March 01, 2026 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: The mercury reached uncomfortable levels on Wednesday, with weather forecast apps flashing a “danger of dehydration and heatstroke if outside for extended periods of time” warning. There were occasional moderate breezes, but they were not strong enough to make it a pleasant afternoon. The pitch baked under the harsh sun for most of the day, and the ground staff gently rolled it to keep it game-ready for the semi-final between India and England.From a distance, it seemed to have a nice green tinge, but it was the typical misleading sub-continent green. Its only role was to bind the surface together and prevent it from deteriorating and drying more than normal. The centre strip naturally drew the most attention when the two teams trained on the eve of the match, and both camps hummed similar tunes as they expect it to offer plenty of runs. When India trained two days before the match, light dew started settling on the outfield, but it was not alarming. However, the sudden shift in the weather pattern could make it another talking point.

India bowling coach Morne Morkel delved deeply into the subject, explaining at length why the extra bounce at the venue is a double-edged sword. Having played and watched a lot of cricket at the Wankhede, Morkel asserted that margins here are smaller than at most venues because the “ball travels.”“Look, I think the dew is always a big concern. But that’s again something you can’t control, which is the toss. I think here at Wankhede there’s always that extra bit of bounce. Guys can trust the bounce and hit through the line. But in saying that, that can also, as a bowler, bring you into the game. I just felt, or feel, that the margins here are a lot smaller, the ball travels. It’s quite a small ground. So, yeah, you just need to be really fighting for that over, stay in the moment and compete every ball because, like I said, a batter’s strength can also be his weakness on this surface. So it’s sometimes not to go too defensive and to keep attacking, because opportunities can come,” said Morkel in the pre-match presser.The last time India played England at this venue, they won by 150 runs. In that game, Abhishek Sharma smashed a 54-ball 135, including 13 sixes and seven boundaries, and the opener later picked up two wickets to seal an emphatic win. The stakes, however, are different this time because this is not an inconsequential bilateral fixture but the semi-final of the T20 World Cup.Harry Brook-led England have aced different conditions to progress to the semi-final stage, and Morkel is wary of the challenges they bring to the table. The former South African cricketer felt that the team which holds its nerve, reads the conditions well and is quickest will probably be the one that flies to Ahmedabad.“Playing against England, they’re a team that’s street smart. Obviously, there’s a lot of quality in their side, batting quite long and deep, which makes them a very dangerous side. And then with the ball also, they’ve got wicket-taking options. I think the way they approach a T20 game, fearless and trying to take the game on, will give you opportunities and makes them a dangerous side. So I feel tomorrow is going to be a good shootout between two aggressive teams. And the side that can hold its nerve, play the conditions, read some of the conditions quite well and be the quickest, I reckon, will come out on top,” added Morkel.Neither team has had a perfect game in the tournament so far. The two-time champions will collide in front of a capacity crowd, and the outcome will depend on who aces the challenge. India have had their moments, sealed important junctures in games and managed to win all matches except the fixture against South Africa.The heavy defeat in Ahmedabad set them back, making their remaining games virtual knockouts, and Suryakumar Yadav and Co. have responded well to the challenges they faced. Against Zimbabwe in Chennai, there were signs of the batting unit coming together, but there were early hiccups against the West Indies in Ahmedabad before Sanju Samson dropped anchor, and what a performance it was.The focus, however, will not be the batters but on India’s x-factor Varun Chakravarthy, who single-handedly destroyed England in the five-match T20I series. Varun returned with a haul of 14 wickets, and England’s batters remained clueless against the mystery spinner. The tournament began strongly for Varun, but he seemed to lose his rhythm in the Super 8 stage. The habit of picking up a wicket in every game has continued, but the penetration has not been the same, especially since the hammering he received from South Africa in Ahmedabad.The day before the match, he returned to his routine of bowling at a single stump, and the entire support staff rallied around him as the spinner completed his drills. The coaching staff had normal conversations with Varun, ensuring he walked away feeling good about his bowling. He is an important player who could be the difference between the two sides in the high-pressure fixture on Thursday.

“I keep telling him that in our bowling lineup, with the skill and variation Varun has got, he has the ability to take a wicket almost every ball. So if he goes for a boundary, he has not executed as well as possible. For him it is just about moving on to the next one and making sure he commits to that next ball. I think he’s a highly skilful guy, hard to pick once you walk to the crease. So for him it is just about getting that confidence with the ball, getting his speed, length and control right, and not trying to overthink it. I think with Varun at times, to his credit, he wants to be a big performer for the team, so he puts a little pressure on himself. But, yeah, he’s a match-winner for us, and for him it is just to stay and bowl every ball and make sure it is his best ball,” said Morkel.India have managed to deal with pressure in their last two must-win games. They must embrace that same approach for two more matches if they are to become the only side in the world to win a T20 World Cup at home and defend the title. The shootout at Wankhede is the first challenge.

New Zealand’s Finn Allen produced a power-hitting masterclass, blasting the fastest century in T20 World Cup history as he powered the Kiwis to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata on Wednesday, securing their place in the final.Chasing 170 in the first semi-final, Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, shattering Chris Gayle’s previous record of 47 deliveries, as New Zealand raced to victory with 7.1 overs to spare.

Allen finished in style, hitting a four, two sixes, and another four off successive balls to seal the win and celebrate his record-breaking hundred at Eden Gardens. Tim Seifert also starred with 58, sharing a 117-run opening stand with Allen in just 9.1 overs. Seifert struck seven fours and two sixes, while Allen unleashed eight sixes and 10 fours in an awe-inspiring display of controlled power.“Just tried to get in good positions and perform for the team. [The plan for the opening partnership] We wanted to start well and put them on the back foot early. Easy for me when Timmy is going like that. I can just watch and get him on strike. He batted on a flyer. Huge game for us. Timmy and I just kept ensuring we’re looking straight and going hard,” Allen, who was named Player of the Match, said after the game.“[On adapting to different pitches and being aggressive] You adapt to the wicket. Training is really important to get a feel of the wicket. We knew it would be black soil, we had that intel. Shows how important that series was before the World Cup,” he added.New Zealand, who had edged into the semi-finals on net run rate, will face either India or England in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad as they chase their first World Cup title. “[On getting to the final] You take the positives from the game and celebrate a little but you have a final to look forward to on Sunday,” Allen said.Earlier, spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie claimed two wickets each to restrict South Africa to 169-8 after New Zealand chose to field first. The 2024 runners-up, led by Aiden Markram, had been unbeaten in seven matches but were reduced to 77-5 before Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 55 restored some respectability.Seifert reached his fifty off quick bowler Lungi Ngidi, while Allen brought up his half-century off just 19 balls. Kagiso Rabada accounted for Seifert in the 10th over, but that was South Africa’s only success in the chase.Earlier in the innings, McConchie struck in the second over, removing Quinton de Kock for 10 and Ryan Rickelton on the next ball, though Dewald Brevis avoided the hat-trick. Ravindra trapped Markram for 18, caught in the deep by Daryl Mitchell, and five balls later, David Miller fell for six, also to Ravindra and Mitchell.South Africa lost half their side inside 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham dismissed Brevis for 34. Tristan Stubbs contributed 29 before falling to Lockie Ferguson, while Jansen smashed two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball unbeaten knock, including a six off Ferguson to reach his fifty.Fast bowler Matt Henry, who returned only on Tuesday night after going home for the birth of his child, finished with 2-34, providing timely support for the Kiwis.

Daryl Mitchell (Special Arrangement)

NEW DELHI: If Daryl Mitchell wasn’t representing the Black Caps, he might very well have been playing for the All Blacks. Instead of sending bowlers on leather hunts with his brutal hitting or executing sweeps and reverse sweeps against spinners, the experienced cricketer could have been taking on the role of a forward or back in rugby.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The son of renowned rugby player and current England women’s rugby team coach John Mitchell, Daryl’s journey into cricket began almost by accident — but he quickly fell in love with the gentleman’s game.

John Mitchell never pressured his son, always encouraging Daryl to pursue whatever he loved. Having already made his mark in the rugby world, John played for the All Blacks, including the 1993 tour of Britain, where he featured in six uncapped matches, captained the side three times, and led his team to victories on each occasion.After his playing career, John went on to coach the All Blacks, as well as teams in England, the USA, Japan, and beyond.Inspired by his father’s sporting achievements, Daryl initially started out in rugby but was soon drawn to cricket. Today, he has carved out a significant place for himself in New Zealand cricket, establishing a legacy in the sport just as his father did in rugby.

“Daryl was obviously brought up around rugby because I played and coached it. As a youngster, he tried both rugby and football. Later, a development officer from Northern Districts approached me and asked if he could try turning my son into a batsman. I agreed. We even created backyard games — for example, a 12-ball challenge where he had to score 15 runs, with six balls bowled fast and six slow, and consequences for hitting sixes over the fence. Over time, Daryl embraced every challenge, loved the sport, and had fun. I never imagined these games would prepare him for where he is today. What he’s achieved is entirely the result of his own development and mindset,” John Mitchell told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“Before he played for school sides, Waikato under-15, and even Australian Country Schools, he made the first XV at Hale College in Perth. But he simply loved cricket more. He enjoyed rugby, yet he realised he might not have the speed to play at the highest level. Cricket offered him more opportunities and the individual challenges he thrives on. He has always taken his own decisions in his career—and, in fact, made the right ones!” the proud father added with a laugh.

‘DAD, I WANT TO BE A CRICKETER’John had been keeping a close eye on his son’s progress and noticed the natural inclination the right-hander had towards cricket.He patiently waited for the moment when Daryl would come to him and share his aspirations — and that day arrived sooner than expected.One fine day, a 15-year-old Daryl walked up and said, “Dad, I want to be a cricketer.”John smiled and embraced his son. Though he had dominated the rugby world, he understood how cricket had found its way into Daryl’s life — thanks in large part to Daryl’s grandfather, John’s own father.“We’ve always supported our children’s choices. I never wanted to be a dominant parent or interfere as a coach. I let him set his own goals, and whatever he chose, we were 100% behind him. That independence has likely played a big part in shaping the player he is today,” John Mitchell said.

“A development officer first approached us about shaping him as a batsman. Later, another Northern Districts coach, Pat, also guided him. But the greatest influence was his late grandfather, who drove him to cricket, supported him, and filled in whenever I was away,” he added.Does Daryl’s rugby background help him on the cricket field?“I’m not sure it directly helped, but in many ways, yes,” John said.“The foundations he observed — the preparation and mindset of world-class players—likely influenced him. Success doesn’t happen overnight; it comes through learning from wins and losses. Experiencing that early allowed him to master his craft. Physically, he’s a big guy, which helps, but more importantly, it’s his hard work and attitude that stand out,” he added.

DARYL – THE MAN WHO HANDLES FAILURE WELL, ENJOY SUCCESSDaryl donned the international jersey for the first time in 2019, at the age of 27, against India in Wellington. That same year, he made his Test debut against England in Hamilton, scoring a magnificent 73 on debut. However, the right-hander had to wait two more years to earn his ODI cap, which finally came in 2021 against Bangladesh in Dunedin.Since then, Daryl has become a mainstay in the New Zealand cricket setup, featuring in 35 Tests, 59 ODIs, and 102 T20Is. He has grown into a dependable player, one whom his team can rely on whenever he is at the crease.Whether it’s hitting towering sixes, finding gaps, demolishing the required run rate, or changing the course of a game with sweeps and reverse sweeps against the best spinners, Daryl has evolved into a batter that opposing teams plan meticulously against before even stepping onto the field. His ability to adapt to any conditions and deliver under pressure has made him a crucial asset for the Black Caps.

“It’s always a proud moment whenever I see him play for his country and contribute to victories. He’s mature, understands his role, and handles setbacks well. Daryl can play innovative shots, like reverse sweeps, and excels against spinners. Watching him perform for New Zealand is truly rewarding.“The Black Caps have a small player base, but they achieve a lot. They have a good mix of youth and experience. Kane Williamson has set high standards, and Daryl, along with players like Santner, carries that forward. Playing in Asia now gives them exposure to varied conditions and builds confidence,” he said.“One of the biggest qualities in him is how he balances life. No matter what, he makes time for his family. He trains hard, then spends quality time with his daughters, wife Amy, and close friends. He’s also taken up golf and maintains a personal training setup at home. That routine suits his lifestyle and keeps him energised,” the father signed off.