AUCKLAND- New Zealand’s middle-order batsman Daryl Mitchell will be absent from the highly anticipated final T20I against Pakistan scheduled for Sunday at Hagley Oval.
Although Mitchell played a match-winning innings in the ongoing series, scoring 72 runs off 44 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes, he will sit out the clash on Sunday due to workload management concerns.
New Zealand Cricket issued a brief statement stating, “Daryl Mitchell will not play in the final T20I against Pakistan at Hagley Oval as part of workload management under the guidance of the workload management team,”.
Head coach Gary Stead confirmed that the experienced batsman Rachin Ravindra will step into Mitchell’s position to play against the Shaheens in the final match at Christchurch.
Stead acknowledged Mitchell’s importance in all formats and expressed confidence that Rachin Ravindra, returning after a brief break, will bring valuable skills to the team during this crucial encounter.
Stead remarked, “Rachin is coming back refreshed, and he will bring a set of valuable skills to the group in this final match as he continues his international cricket comeback,”. Rachin Ravindra has played 18 T20I matches so far, with a batting average of 13.18 and a strike rate of 117.88, amassing 145 runs as a left-handed batsman.
New Zealand also confirmed that they will make a final decision on Devon Conway’s participation in the last T20I match.
