'Very lucky to be part of this generation' - Daryl Mitchell on New Zealand's cricket success

Daryl Mitchell has expressed gratitude for his place within New Zealand's cricket generation, acknowledging the privilege of learning from elite players in the dressing room. The New Zealand batter has been part of a squad that transformed the country's standing across all three formats over the past decade, moving from underdog status to becoming a dependable and dangerous outfit on the world stage.

Mitchell spoke about his journey and the collective achievements of his generation. He reflected on the various milestones New Zealand has reached, from Test cricket victories to white-ball tournament appearances that have defined the team's recent era.

"I've been lucky to learn off the likes of Kane and other greats of our game in our country, to help my own game personally," Mitchell said to The Cricket News.

Celebrating success across all three formats

New Zealand's success across formats has been substantial over recent years. The team won the World Test Championship final against India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton from June 18-23, 2021, securing victory by 8 wickets. Kane Williamson scored 49 in the first innings, and Ross Taylor played a crucial role in the unbroken partnership that sealed the victory on the reserve day. These experiences have shaped his perspective on what it means to represent his country at the highest level.

"Just to experience amazing things, winning Test series all around the world, obviously the World Test Championship. We might have lost a couple of white-ball finals, but they've been incredible experiences as well," Mitchell said.

Mitchell's own performances have contributed to New Zealand's recent success. He scored 137 in the third ODI against India in Indore on January 18, 2026, as New Zealand sealed their first-ever bilateral ODI series victory on Indian soil, demonstrating the team's ability to succeed in challenging conditions.

"I guess if I look back, I've been very lucky to be part of a generation of cricketers in New Zealand that have had some pretty good times and achieved some incredible things on the world stage. So yeah, very lucky to be part of this generation of cricketers in New Zealand, and hopefully the success can keep going for many generations to come," said Mitchell.