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'Cricket Our Way': Daryl Mitchell Hits Back at Critics Over Sportsmanship Backlash Involving Virat Kohli

image-lp2co534New Zealand players kept checking on Virat Kohli while he was struggling (Twitter)

In the first ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final match that saw India emerge victorious over New Zealand with a decisive 70-run victory, the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by the New Zealand team sparked a debate.


Daryl Mitchell affirms team ethos after World Cup critique

Despite their loss at Wankhede Stadium, the Kiwi players' gesture of assisting India's Virat Kohli, who was experiencing cramps during his brilliant century innings, has been a topic of discussion.

New Zealand batter, Daryl Mitchell, who himself scored an impressive 134 runs off 119 balls, addressed the criticism regarding their sportsmanlike conduct while speaking to reports before leaving Mumbai on Thursday.

The backlash, primarily voiced by former Australian cricketer, Simon O'Donnell, suggested that New Zealand's assistance to Kohli reflected a lack of competitive edge. However, Mitchell strongly disagreed with this notion.


Mitchell stated the New Zealand team's commitment to playing cricket in a manner that aligns with their national values and the way they wish to inspire the next generation of cricketers. He pointed out that the team takes great pride in their approach to the game, both on and off the field.

"I think that's something we really pride ourselves on as Black Caps and as New Zealanders. We want to play cricket in a way that suits us as a country and how we want to see our kids grow up and play the game themselves," said Mitchell.

According to Mitchell, the ethos of the Black Caps is to maintain their style of play and uphold the respect they have earned globally, irrespective of external criticisms.

"We'll keep playing cricket the way we do as Kiwis and hopefully the rest of the world can respect us and how we go about our day-to-day life, not only on the field but off it as well. It's something that we're really proud of, so we'll just keep being Black Caps and doing what we're doing,” added the 32-year-old.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand team has left Mumbai and is headed towards Bangladesh for a two-match Test series starting on November 28.