New Zealand finished Day 1 of the third Test against India at Wankhede Stadium in a strong position, despite being bowled out for 235 earlier in the day. The Kiwis, having already clinched the 3-match series, fought back with three late wickets to disrupt India's promising start.

After battling extreme heat and challenging conditions, Daryl Mitchell top-scored for New Zealand with a hard-fought 82, falling just 18 runs short of a century. Alongside Will Young, who scored 71, Mitchell helped New Zealand recover from early struggles on a tricky pitch. Reflecting on the conditions, Mitchell said, “It’s pretty warm out there today. The humidity was sticky and there wasn’t a lot of breeze. So us Kiwis coming from the middle of winter back home, it’s always a good challenge.”

Mitchell noted that the most difficult period was the hour after lunch, as both he and Young battled exhaustion from the heat. “It was seriously warm, and that’s probably what took it out of us. You could see a number of Indian players were also struggling with it," he added.

Mitchell explained that the final half-hour before the tea break was particularly tough, as he tried to conserve energy between deliveries. "I was just trying to stay switched on and concentrate on breathing to get my core temperature down." He credited the tea break, and a dip in an ice bath, for helping him regain his strength.

Looking ahead, Mitchell believes the match is finely balanced, stating, “The game is evenly poised at the moment. That is the nature of a Test match wicket.”